VALENCIA, Calif. - Chivas USA dropped a close 2-1 decision to the Columbus Crew tonight in a match played at Cougar Stadium on the campus of the College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif. All proceeds from the match went to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, a non-profit which provides financial and emotional support to children and their families facing childhood cancer in Santa Clarita and the surrounding area.
Atiba Harris scored the first goal of the match, and his first goal in a Chivas USA jersey, in just the ninth minute after Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum lost control of a ball in his area. Columbus struck back with six minutes left in the first half, when Brad Evans scored off a pass from Adam Moffat to tie the game at one.
The game-winner for the Crew came in the 59th minute when Robbie Rogers dribbled into the box and tucked a shot past the diving Bill Gaudette in the Chivas USA goal. Gaudette later came up with an excellent save in injury time to keep the score at 2-1.
Next up for Chivas USA is a scrimmage against the University of California-Riverside on February 29 before the team heads to San Antonio for a three-match set in early March. A full preseason schedule for the team can be found below.
Chivas USA kicks off the 2008 Major League Soccer season at FC Dallas on March 30, and returns to Carson for the home opener on Saturday, April 5 against Real Salt Lake. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
Chivas USA 1:2 Columbus Crew
MLS Preseason Exhibition - February 23, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. PT
Cougar Stadium, College of the Canyons - Valencia, California
Scoring Summary:
CHV - Atiba Harris (Unassisted) 9
CLB- Brad Evans (Adam Moffat) 39
CLB- Robbie Rogers 59
Lineups:
Chivas USA (4-4-2): Brad Guzan (Bill Gaudette 46); Alex Zotinca (Brent Whitfield, 62) Claudio Suarez (Andre Sherard, 62) Jim Curtin (Bobby Burling, 62), Jorge Flores (Gerson Mayen, 62); Sacha Kljestan, Dan Paladini, Alecko Eskandarian (John Cunliffe 46), Chukwudi Chijinju (Kraig Chiles, 62); Ante Razov (Arnaldo Salazar, 62) Atiba Harris (Keith Savage, 62).
Chivas USA Head Coach: Preki Radosavljevic.
Columbus Crew (4-3-3): Andy Gruenebaum, Tim Ward (Andrew Petersen, 62) Jed Zayner (Ryan Junge, 62) Emmanuel Epko (Leonard Griffin, 62), Eza Hendrickson (Ryan Miller, 62), Brian Carroll (Ricardo Virtuoso, 62), Adam Moffat (Robbie Rogers, 62) Danny O'Rourke (Alejandro Moreno, 62), George Josten (Kevin Burns, 62), Sandro Silva (Stefani Miglioranzi, 62), Brad Evans (Mamadu Bah, 62).
Columbus Crew Head Coach: Sigi Schmid.
Referee: Ali Hacock.
Assistants: Majic Berenji, Jesse Yzaguirre.
4th official: Miguel Reyes.
Weather: Rainy, 52 F
Cautions:
CHV - Sasha Kljestan 56
Ejections:
None.
[All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.]
CHIVAS USA 2008 :: SCHEDULE OF PRESEASON GAMES
DAY DATE EVENT TIME/LOCATION
Sat Feb 9 vs. UCLA W, 2-0
Tue Feb 12 vs. New York Red Bulls W, 1-0
Sat Feb 16 vs. Japanese U-23 National Team L, 4-0
Mon Feb 18 vs. D.C. United W, 1-0
Sat Feb 23 vs. Columbus @ Santa Clarita, CA L, 2-1
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Riverside 10:00 a.m.
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ San Antonio 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Fri Mar 7 vs. Houston Dynamo @ San Antonio 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Sun Mar 9 vs. Toronto FC @ San Antonio 3:00 p.m. (CT)
Sat Mar 15 vs. San Diego State 10:00 a.m.
Wed Mar 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton 10:00 a.m.
SUN MAR 30 @ FC Dallas (OPENING DAY) 12:00 p.m.
SAT APR 5 vs. Real Salt Lake (HOME OPENER) 7:30 p.m.
* Subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, all times Pacific and all games at The Home Depot Center. For the latest information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
About Chivas USA
Chivas USA, Major League Soccer's Mexican-owned, Los Angeles-based futbol club - sister team to the famed Chivas de Guadalajara - brings a passionate new approach to the world of professional soccer in the U.S. Under new head coach Preki, Chivas USA, which is looking to build on the team's historic playoff run in 2006, kicks off the 2007 season at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California against Toronto FC, MLS's new Canadian team, on Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. PT. For more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
