Carson, CA (My Sportsbook) - San Jose coach Frank Yallop was just trying to be realistic after last weekend's 4-0 win over New England when he said we have to "make sure we don't get carried away with this one result."

After all, San Jose is still last in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

But the Earthquakes have more to build on than just "one result." San Jose is undefeated in its last five, including two straight wins.

On Saturday, San Jose has a chance to move out of last place for the first time all year when it visits Chivas USA. The Earthquakes are just two points behind Chivas and, amazingly, only six points out of second.

"We are not giving up because we are at the bottom of the table right now," San Jose forward Scott Sealy said. "We have a shot [at the playoffs]."

Yallop may not have believed that himself a few weeks ago, but with the changes he's made in the last month, expansion San Jose is no longer a pushover.

Since signing former English Premier League striker Darren Huckerby and Brazil midfielder Francisco Lima, and trading for Sealy, San Jose is unbeaten in four games.

The win over New England, which was in first in the Eastern Conference entering the match and regained the top spot Wednesday with a 2-1 win over D.C. United, was the most impressive.

So Yallop was right to caution his team about getting "carried away," but it is also the type of result that could prove the Earthquakes are actually a team to watch down the stretch.

"We are happy with this win, but we need to keep going," Huckerby said.

Huckerby has been the most impressive addition for San Jose, scoring two goals and adding three assists. Sealy has a goal and two assists and Lima has been a much-needed veteran presence in midfield and chipped in one assist.

MLS veteran Arturo Alvarez, who played for the Earthquakes in 2003-04, has also been added to the mix and he has one goal in two games.

"Bringing in these new players has really given us a boost going forward. We have so many different types of attacking players and that creates problems for our opponents," San Jose midfielder Ronnie O'Brien said.

"We are feeling confident up front right now."

O'Brien included. He scored two goals and added an assist in last weekend's win over New England and was named MLS Player of the Week.

He is one of just four San Jose players - Joe Cannon, Ramiro Corrales and Jason Hernandez are the others - who have started at least 19 of the team's 20 games this season and all are playing key roles in the turnaround.

After scoring just 11 goals in its first 17 matches, San Jose has eight in its last three. Defensively, goalie Cannon, Corrales and Hernandez have helped the Earthquakes remain strong in that area with two shutouts in their last four.

"The season is very long," Yallop said. "We are not out of the playoffs and we still have a chance to make it."

Chivas, which finished first in the Western Conference last year, is coming off its worst loss of the season, 4-0 to two-time defending MLS champion Houston on Wednesday.

"They were better. They came on the field ready to play, they were aggressive, they made plays when they needed to make plays," Chivas coach Preki said. "They got an early lead and after that it was just a matter of how many we were going to concede on the night."

The Goats are winless in five straight, including losses in three of their last four, and are in danger of slipping to the bottom of the conference.

"We have to move on, we have a game on Saturday we have to prepare for. We need a result, that's all there is to say," Chivas defender Jonathan Bornstein said.

Chivas has been decimated by injuries - and the departure of goalie Brad Guzan to Aston Villa in the English Premier League - and it has been evident on the field.

MLS veteran goalkeeper Zach Thornton was acquired to replace Guzan, but in four starts has already surrendered 10 goals. Obviously, Chivas' defenders also are to blame for the recent woes.

"As a back four we need to start doing some of the things we did last year to protect the goal," Chivas defender Shavar Thomas said.

Chivas defeated San Jose in the teams' only previous meeting this year, 1-0 on July 5. Ante Razov scored the only goal off a free kick in the 88th minute, but he's one of 11 injured Chivas players who could miss Saturday's game - five are already ruled out.