Chivas USA scored a 4-0 victory over the Fresno Fuego Sunday in a match held at Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno, Calif. Jesse Marsch scored in the first minute for the Red-and-White, who added goals from forward Atiba Harris, midfielder Keith Savage, and defender Shavar Thomas in the second half.
Marsch opened the scoring for the Red-and-White before even one minute of the match had passed. A free kick was given to Chivas USA 40 yards from goal, and Raphael Wicky's lofted ball was cleared out directly to Marsch. The veteran midfielder caught the ball on a full volley and his 25-yard shot found its way to the bottom corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.
The score remained 1-0 until the 62nd minute of the match when Harris got on the end of a Savage cross, beating the goalkeeper to the ball to head home the second goal. Savage then added a goal of his own ten minutes later, when a bouncing throw in from Eric Ebert cleared the goalkeeper and defenders and fell to the rookie at the back post to head in at the goal line. Thomas then closed the scoring with eight minutes remaining, heading in a goal from a Jesse Marsch corner kick.
Chivas USA 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.
Fresno Fuego 4:0 Chivas USA
Preseason Exhibition - March 16, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. PT
Chukchansi Park - Fresno, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
CHV - Marsch (unassisted), 1st minute
CHV - Harris (Savage), 62nd minute
CHV - Savage (Ebert), 72nd minute
CHV - Thomas (Marsch) 82nd minute
Fresno Fuego Lineup (4-4-2): Brandon Cave; Paul Moran, Eddie Gutierrez, Gaston Cignetti, Raul Rivera (Marcus Cabello); Jesus Santiago, Mihallo Jovanivis (Demitrius Harvey 71), Orlando Ramirez, Fabricio Codeceira; Adrian Alvarado (Robert Rodriguez 38), Pablo Campos.
Fresno Fuego Head Coach: Scott Alcorn
Chivas USA Lineup (4-4-2): Sam Reynolds; Jon Bornstein, Shavar Thomas, Claudio Suárez (Bobby Burling 57), Lawson Vaughn; Raphael Wicky (Eric Ebert 69), Jesse Marsch (Jim Curtin 84), Paulo Nagamura, Keith Savage; Atiba Harris (Justin Braun 76), Maykel Galindo.
Chivas USA Head Coach: Preki Radosavljevic
Cautions:
Harris (CHV) 75, Cignetti (FF) 75,
Ejections:
Galindo (CHV) 80, Moran (FF) 80
Referee: Kari Seitz
Assistants: Chris Strickland, David Bragg
Weather: 65°, Sunny
