Chivas USA took a 5-0 victory this morning over Cal State Fullerton on Field 6 at The Home Depot Center in a preseason scrimmage. A young Red-and-White squad got two goals from both Jorge Flores and Arnaldo Salazar, as well as an own goal in the first half, on its way to the win.
Flores, playing on the left side of midfield, opened the scoring just seven minutes in when his shot from 22 yards took a deflection and went into the net in the opposite direction of the diving goalkeeper. Chivas USA kept putting pressure on the Fullerton defense throughout the half, and were rewarded in the 31st minute when Brent Whitfield's cross was put into the goal by a Fullerton defender being put under pressure by forward Anthony Hamilton.
The game remained 2-0 in favor of the Red-and-White until the 60th minute, when forward Arnaldo Salazar took a shot that deflected past the stranded Fullerton goalkeeper to add to the lead. Flores struck again six minutes later, when he took a well-placed shot to the top corner of the far post to make the game 4-0. The final goal came on a play started by former Chivas USA U-18 Team member Flores, who played the ball to Gerson Mayen 30 yards from goal. Mayen switched the ball to Mario Ledezma, who then crossed the ball to Salazar for his second goal of the game. Mayen, Salazar and Ledezma are all current members of the Chivas USA U-18 Team.
Chivas USA now looks to its final preseason exhibition to be played this Saturday, March 22 at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton against Honduran First Division side Real España. Chivas USA then kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
Chivas USA 5:0 Cal State Fullerton
MLS Preseason Exhibition - 19 March 2008 - 9:00 a.m. PT
Field 6 at The Home Depot Center - Carson, California
Scoring Summary:
CHV - Jorge Flores, 7th minute
CHV - Own goal, 31st minute
CHV - Arnaldo Salazar (Erasmo Solórzano), 60th minute
CHV - Flores (Hamilton), 66th minute
CHV - Salazar (Mario Ledezma), 75th minute
Lineup:
Chivas USA (4-4-2): Dan Kennedy; Brent Whitfield, Jim Curtin, Bobby Burling, Gerson Mayen; John Cunliffe (Erasmo Solórzano 46), Daniel Paladini, Kraig Chiles (Mario Ledezma 65), Jorge Flores; Anthony Hamilton, Arnaldo Salazar.
Chivas USA Head Coach: Preki Radosavljevic.
[All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.]
