THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARSON, Calif. -- Sacha Kljestan scored goals in each half and Chivas USA beat Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday.
Despite missing goalkeeper Zach Thornton due to a right quadriceps injury, Chivas (10-7-3) moved within two points of rival Los Angeles for second place in the Western Conference. They play next weekend.
Toronto (8-8-6) fell to 1-5-3 on the road since winning its season opener at Kansas City.
Kljestan, a regular with the U.S. national team before the MLS season began, has seen his playing time with the U.S. drop dramatically due to his poor club performance. He had scored a combined nine goals in the last two seasons but entered Saturday without one this year.
That changed in the 32nd minute. Following a Chivas corner kick, Jesse Marsch found the ball on the left side of the penalty area and crossed to Maykel Galindo, who headed a shot on goal. The ball bounced toward Kljestan, who easily knocked it across the goal line.
In the 50th minute, Kljestan took a pass from Maicon Santos and dribbled into the penalty area before beating Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei to the far post.
Santos and Jesus Padilla made their Chivas USA debuts, having joined the club earlier in the week on loan from Latin American clubs. Padilla, a native of San Jose, Calif., joined the team from sister club Chivas Guadalajara while Santos came from Brazilian club Bonsucesso.
