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CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Brent Whitfield scored his first career goal but Jafet Soto evened the score late as Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake tied 1-1 Sunday night in both teams' regular-season finale.
The match had no effect on the Western Conference playoff picture. Chivas was ensured of third place and Real Salt Lake was eliminated when Houston and Colorado tied 3-3 Saturday.
Chivas (10-9-13) will host Houston at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 in the first leg of the club's two-game, total-goals Western Conference semifinal series.
Real Salt Lake (10-13-9) finished tied with the Los Angeles Galaxy at the bottom of the conference standings with 39 points.
Chivas coach Bob Bradley rested a pair of regulars. Midfielder Juan Pablo Garcia sat out the match with an adductor injury while defender Claudio Suarez was given the night off. Ante Razov, who had missed the last two games with hip and groin injuries, returned to the starting lineup.
Chivas had a setback just before halftime when midfielder Jesse Marsch hit the ground following a collision with Real Salt Lake forward Atiba Harris. Marsch was taken off the field on a stretcher and diagnosed with a mild concussion. It was unclear Saturday night whether he would be able to play in Chivas' playoff opener.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-10-15-06 1939MDT
