FAITH INTACT Chivas players support Burpo
By Luis Bueno LASoccerNews.com Editor
Preston Burpo has compiled a 7-3-9 record in the net for Chivas USA. Photo by Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
CARSON, Calif. – In the first 33 minutes of Sunday’s critical match against D.C. United, Chivas USA goalkeeper Preston Burpo was anything but a stonewall.
First, his wall hung him out to dry on a free kick as D.C.’s Christian Gomez swerved a free kick over the heart of the wall and into the back of the net. Then, Burpo made himself look bad when Gomez raced down the middle of the field and slipped an 18-yard shot past Burpo into the corner of the net.
For the remainder of the first half, Chivas fans loudly booed Burpo every time he touched the ball. His gaffe proved costly as Chivas fell 2-1 to United and dropped to fourth place in the Western Conference table.
“He was there and he could have made the save and he should have made the save. He knows that,” Chivas defender Tim Regan said. “A thousand times, he’s going to save it almost every time.”
Burpo’s hiccup did not shatter the confidence his team has in him.
“The defense is very confident in him,” Burpo said. “I have confidence in him and I’m sure everybody else does that when he’s in the goal he’s ready to make big saves.”
Chivas coach Bob Bradley left the door open to make a change in goalkeeper. Bradley said he would continue to evaluate each player as he does all other players and decide what is best for the team.
“You make decisions based upon the sharpness you see, the mentality that everybody has,” Bradley said. “Like we’ve done throughout the season we’ll continue to discuss the best lineup as we move forward.”
If Bradley decided to make a goalkeeping change at this point of the season, would that disrupt the team? Bradley said it would not.
“Brad continues to work hard. I think he’s pushing Preston,” Bradley said. “Both Preston and Brad have established themselves. We have the challenge of sizing the two of them up just like we do in other areas on the field so that we could put our best team out there.”
Burpo’s teammates have shown the 33-year-old goalkeeper respect all season but that took new heights following the game.
“He’s a guy who is very humble and has character,” Chivas midfielder Juan Pablo Garcia said. “At the end of the game, he asked us for forgiveness and I’ve never seen that before in my career. That speaks highly of him.”
Garcia said there was no reason to believe Burpo would come out shaky on Saturday against FC Dallas.
“He’s going to improve against Dallas on Saturday,” Garcia said. “We can give him the benefit of the doubt that he made a mistake but at the end we support him at all times.”
