A follow-up shot from Felix Borja after Erick "Cubo" Torres torched Victor Bernardez and then slammed a shot off the far post was the difference as Chivas USA won its last ever match as an MLS franchise 1-0 against the San Jose Earthquakes. For struggling San Jose, it was the team's 15th consecutive match without a win, extending the franchise record.
Goalkeeper Jon Busch recorded three saves against the Goats, taking his season total to 138 and claiming the top spot on San Jose's all-time single-season saves list. Two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Joe Cannon had previously been #1 with 137 saves during the 2000 season.
The new record by Busch was the only bright spot for the Earthquakes, as with the loss, the club slumped to its worst ever record in MLS play. Previous to this season, the Quakes had collected only seven victories in both 2000 and 2009. In 2014, their win total was just six.
The Earthquakes finished the 2014 season at the root of the Western Conference. Only the Montreal Impact separated the Quakes from the dubious distinction as MLS Wooden Spoon "winners" -- an ignominious title awarded to the MLS team with the worst overall record and one the franchise has earned on three occasions, most in MLS history.
A silver lining to the 1-0 loss at Chivas USA? The Earthquakes have improved their draft position for the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The Quakes will also receive extra Allocation Funds and perhaps a favorable pick in the Chivas USA Dispersal Draft. With new head coach Dominic Kinnear now in charge of the club, there will be lots of roster shuffling to come in the off season.
Postgame Quotes
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH IAN RUSSELL
On the result:
"I think the second half today was pretty strong. In first half, we were a bit loose. I think that was the big difference. I think Chivas USA did a good job of clogging up the passing lanes so we were getting in some trouble when we were trying to force it in, and they were able to counter on us. After we did that a few times, I think they were tentative to try to find those balls in the middle."
Whether today's second half is motivation for next season
"Look at D.C. United, they had a worse record than us last year and they're first place this year. It can be done and this league allows you to do that with the salary cap; it can definitely be a motivational factor. I think, at least in the second half, we started to create more chances. Credit to Chivas, they did a good job of making it tough for us."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JON BUSCH
On what the club's single-season saves record means to him:
"Right at this moment, nothing. I would trade every one of those saves for a win. I would trade every one of those saves to be in the playoffs and keep playing. That is the only thing that matters to me is winning games and having opportunities in the playoffs to win championships. Saying that, down the road when I'm done playing and can look back, that's when you can reflect on something like this. At this moment, I would trade every single one of those for a chance to play in the playoffs."
On end of the season season:
"I hate when the season comes to an end, I really do. You have so much time to reflect on everything now. It was tough but we are all professional players. We get paid to win games, we get paid to do our job. You want to keep trying to find the right ingredients to change that. Now there's no more games, there's no more training, there's no more anything until next preseason. You have to sit with those thoughts for the next two months. It's going to be on your mind for a long time until you can correct it."