Chivas USA earned a 4-1 victory tonight over Real España of the Honduran First Division in the Red-and-White's final preseason exhibition. In a match played in Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton, Francisco Mendoza and Alecko Eskandarian both marked returns to the Chivas USA lineup after injuries by scoring in the win.
Atiba Harris gave the Red-and-White the 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when he headed in a perfectly placed Ante Razov cross, sent from almost 40 yards. The goal was the only tally in the first half, and Chivas USA could not break through the Real España defense again until the 68th minute. It was then that Chivas USA's only selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, Keith Savage, dribbled through the defense before hammering home a shot to the near post to give the Red-and-White a 2-0 lead.
Francisco Mendoza, in his first action in a preseason match for Chivas USA in 2008, finished a short pass from Harris in the 72nd minute to add to the lead before Alecko Eskandarian, also recently returning from injury, closed the scoring for the Red-and-White in minute 78. Real España striker Douglas Caetano knocked home a penalty in the 89th minute for a consolation goal.
Chivas USA opens the 2008 MLS season on Sunday, March 30 against FC Dallas before returning to Los Angeles for the 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 4:1 Real España
Exhibition Match - March 22, 2008 - 6:00 p.m. PT
Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton - Fullerton, California
Goals:
CHV - Atiba Harris (Ante Razov), 32
CHV - Keith Savage, 68
CHV - Francisco Mendoza (Harris), 72
CHV - Alecko Eskandarian (Justin Braun) 78
RES - Douglas Caetano (Penalty) 89
Lineups:
Chivas USA (4-4-2): Brad Guzan; Lawson Vaughn, Shavar Thomas, Claudio Suárez, Jonathan Bornstein (Eric Ebert 57); Keith Savage, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Francisco Mendoza; Atiba Harris (Justin Braun 73), Ante Razov (Alecko Eskandarian 59)
Chivas USA Head Coach: Preki Radosavljevic.
Real España (4-4-2): Marcelo Macías, Carlos Fretes (Eric Vallecillo 83), Jorge Zaldivar, Carlos Palacios, Nery Medina (Marlon Peña 74); Mario César Rodríguez, Edder Delgado, José Carlos Díaz, Everaldo Ferreira (Allan Lalin 46); Douglas Caetano, Carlos Pavon (Hector Flores 84).
Real España Head Coach: Gilberto Yearwood
Cautions:
RES - Edder Delgado 48
CHV - Paulo Nagamura 53
CHV - Lawson Vaughn 60
CHV - Jesse Marsch 63
RES - Jorge Zaldivar 69
Ejections:
None.
Referee: Ramón Hernández
Assistants: Miguel Chicas, Frank Anderson
Fourth Official: Ian Anderson
CHIVAS USA 2008: PRESEASON SCHEDULE
DAY DATE EVENT TIME/RESULT
Sat Feb 9 vs. UCLA W, 2-0 (Braun, Razov)
Tue Feb 12 vs. New York Red Bulls W, 1-0 (Razov)
Sat Feb 16 vs. Sub-23 de Japón L, 4-0
Mon Feb 18 vs. D.C. United W, 1-0 (Salazar)
Sat Feb 23 vs. Columbus @ Santa Clarita, CA L, 2-1 (Harris)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Riverside W, 1-0 (Suárez)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Irvine W, 2-1 (Galindo, Chiles)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Schertz, TX L, 2-1 (Nagamura)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Cibolo, TX L, 2-1 (Flores)
Fri Mar 7 vs. Houston Dynamo @ Cibolo, TX L, 1-0
Sun Mar 9 vs. Toronto FC @ Cibolo, TX L, 3-2 (autogol, Razov)
Sat Mar 15 vs. San Diego State W, 2-1 (Chijindu, Solórzano)
Sun Mar 16 vs. Fresno Fuego @ Fresno, CA W, 4-0 (Marsch, Harris, Savage, Thomas)
Wed Mar 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton W, 5-0 (Flores 2, autogol, Salazar 2)
Sat Mar 22 vs. Real España @ Fullerton W, 4-1 (Harris, Savage, Mendoza, Eskandarian)
SUN MAR 30 @ FC Dallas (SEASON OPENER) 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 are Pacific and all games are in The Home Depot Center. For more information, contact the Chivas USA Communications Department.
