CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA's fate has been set. The third-year Major League Soccer club, currently Los Angeles' lone playoff team and top seed in the Western Conference with a 15-7-8 regular-season record (W-L-T), begins its 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs Road to Glory this Saturday, Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. CT when it visits the Kansas City Wizards in Game 1 of the two-game Western Conference Semifinal Series at Arrowhead Stadium.
The following Saturday, Nov. 3, Chivas USA returns home to host Kansas City in the highly anticipated Game 2 of the total-goals series at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center (TV: FSN Prime Ticket, HDNet; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM; Pregame show starts @ 7:00 p.m. PT on KTNQ). Tickets, starting at $14 for General Admission, are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or by visiting www.cdchivasusa.com.
In a special offer, fans who purchase Chivas USA playoff tickets via 1-877-CHIVAS-1 will receive a limited-edition Chivas USA Road to Glory Playoffs t-shirt to proudly wear at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, Nov. 3. Note that Chivas USA's Nov. 3 playoff match is Bonus Game 'B' for media and Chivas USA Season Ticket Holders.
Chivas USA's series against Kansas City will be of special significance for first-year head coach Preki and current Chivas USA defenders Alex Zotinca and Shavar Thomas, as the trio won the U.S. Open Cup while playing for Kansas City in 2004. Preki also won the 2000 MLS Cup and two MLS MVP awards as a player for the Wizards from 1996-2005, forever leaving his mark in Kansas City as one of Major League Soccer's most spectacular attacking players.
"We're excited to be in the postseason facing Kansas City in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Wizards are a tough team and we expect a good series," said Preki. "I have great memories of playing in Kansas City, but now I'm in a new place, my future is here with Chivas USA and I'm looking forward to the challenge."
During the 2007 regular season, Chivas USA and Kansas City split their two-game series, earning a win apiece. This Saturday, Chivas USA returns to the site of its July 29 thriller at Kansas City, a match that despite ending in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss, provided the spark for the club's eventual team-record 11-game unbeaten streak, including a 2-1 victory over the Wizards on Sept. 22 at The Home Depot Center.
The winner of the two-game, total-goals series will face the winner of the other Western Conference Semifinal between the reigning MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas, to be played Saturday, Oct. 27 (Game 1 at Frisco, Texas) and Friday, Nov. 2 (Game 2 at Houston, Texas).
With a 0-0 tie against Houston Saturday night at The Home Depot Center, Chivas USA finished the 2007 MLS regular season with a 15-7-8 record (W-L-T) and 53 points to clinch the first seed in MLS's Western Conference and home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Two seasons after finishing last in MLS, with a 4-22-6 record as an expansion club, Chivas USA earned second place in the overall MLS table, just two points behind Supporters' Shield winner D.C. United (55 points).
After a day off on Monday, Chivas USA will resume training Tuesday at The Home Depot Center's Field 6 before departing Friday for Kansas City. A full team schedule follows; for additional information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE: OCTOBER 22 - NOVEMBER 3*
Ahead of Chivas USA's MLS Western Conference Semifinal Series vs. the Kansas City Wizards, here is the team's schedule for travel, events, matches and practice sessions:
Monday, October 22: [Day off]
Tuesday, October 23: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Wednesday, October 24: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Thursday, October 25: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Friday, October 26: Training, 9:00 a.m. PT; Travel to Kansas City
Saturday, October 27: Chivas USA @ Kansas City Wizards (Western Conference Semifinal Series, Game 1 of 2), 5:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. CT, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
(TV: TBA; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM; Pregame show starts @ 5:00 p.m. PT on KTNQ)
Sunday, October 28: Travel to Los Angeles
Monday, October 29 - Friday, November 2: TBD
Saturday, November 3: Chivas USA vs. Kansas City Wizards (Western Conference Semifinal Series, Game 2 of 2), 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
(TV: FSN Prime Ticket, HDNet; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM; Pregame show start @ 7:00 p.m. PT on KTNQ)
*Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific and all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center. Media access provided after games and trainings. For latest information, contact Chivas USA's Communications Department.
