Having already locked up postseason births, Chivas USA and FC Dallas fought to a 0-0 draw while several starters got some much-needed rest at Pizza Hut Park on Thursday night.

With both clubs turning their eyes to the playoffs, neither came out with much intensity or determination, though things picked up in the second half when a shouting match broke out between FCD's Bobby Rhine and referee Brian Hall.

In the 25th minute, Juan Carlos Toja took on three defenders before pushing the ball forward on the left side to Denilson. With space, the Brazilian Designated Player sent in a high cross that Abe Thompson rose to meet, but nodded just over the crossbar.

The home team pressured again at the half hour mark as Adrian Serioux used a give-and-go to break through the Chivas backline. From 20 yards out, the Canada international blasted a left-footed shot on goal, but Chivas keeper Brad Guzan used both hands to knock the ball clear of the net.

Two minutes shy of halftime, Toja initiated another attack, springing Thompson past Jason Hernandez and in alone on goal with intentions of booting Dallas into the lead. Guzan, however, had other ideas, using a magnificent kick save to deny Thompson.

The first scoring opportunity in the second half went to Chivas USA, as Francisco Mendoza's cross into the box was spilled by back-up Dallas netminder Ray Burse. As the ball skipped out to the top of the area, Sacha Kljestan readied a shot, but the attempt from the second-year Seton Hall grad flew well over the bar and into the stands.

At the other end of the field, Kenny Cooper posted up a trio of defenders just feet from goal, turning and getting off a shot. It was Guzan again who came up big, making another save with his feet to keep the game knotted after an hour.

In the 72nd minute, a Thompson shot was deflected back to Cooper in the middle of the attacking third. Cooper, making his first MLS start since breaking his leg several months ago, sent a skipping shot on goal, but Guzan again got down to make the save, working toward his league-leading 12th shutout.

An 80th minute straight red card on Rhine reduced the Hoops to 10-men for the remainder of the match when referee Brian Hall sent off the Dallas captain for abusive language.

A final chance for shorthanded Dallas came from the foot of Arturo Alvarez. Weaving through several defenders, Alvarez fired a bending shot that beat a diving Guzan and squarely hit the right post before being cleared out of danger, cementing the result as a scoreless draw.

Taking a point on the road, Chivas is now within striking distance of the Supporter's Shield, sitting just two points behind DC United for the best record in MLS with a pair of games remaining. Both of those games come at home, beginning with Sunday's tilt against the Colorado Rapids at the Home Depot Center, where Preki's club is undefeated in 2007.

FC Dallas remains solidly in fifth position in the league following the tie, four points in front of the New York Red Bulls. Dallas has just one match remaining in the regular season, an October 20th showdown at home against the Kansas City Wizards.

Line-ups
CHV - Brad Guzan; Shavar Thomas, Jason Hernandez, Alex Zotinca, Jonathan Bornstein, Paulo Nagamura, Jesse Marsch (Lawson Vaughn 61'), Sacha Kljestan, Francisco Mendoza, Laurent Merlin (Maykel Galindo 68'), John Cunliffe (Ante Razov 65')

FCD - Ray Burse; Drew Moor, Adrian Serioux, David Wagenfuhr, Aaron Pitchkolan, Bobby Rhine, Juan Carlos Toja, Denilson (Dax McCarty 76'), Arturo Alvarez, Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 84'), Abe Thompson