Chivas USA Youth Soccer Update: May 1

Welcome to this week's Chivas USA Youth Development Update, a roundup of Chivas USA's pioneering youth development program, including the Chivas USA Under-18 and U-16 teams - where the region's best talent compete, funded fully by the club and free of cost to the players, in the prestigious U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy - and the Chivas and Chivas USA Soccer Academies. For more information on Chivas USA's youth development program, please visit www.cdchivasusa.com.

JORGE FLORES CALLED UP TO U.S. U-20 NATIONAL TEAM FOR ENGLAND TRIP:
Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Flores has been called into the United States Under-20 National Team by head coach Thomas Rongen, for the team's upcoming trip to Manchester, England. During the week-long training camp, the team will play three friendlies, against the reserve teams from EPL squads Bolton (May 7), Manchester United (May 8) and Liverpool (May 10). The trip is the third foreign training camp, and fifth overall, for Rongen's squad as they prepare for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. Flores is the only domestic professional player on the roster, and is one of the more experienced players on the team in terms of international appearances. So far in 2008, Flores has appeared in eight of the U-20's games, logging 488 minutes, leading the team in both categories; full statistics can be found on the U.S. Soccer website. The trip comes on the heels of another foreign training stint, as both Flores and Chivas USA teammate Gerson Mayen were with the U.S. U-20's at the recent Campos Verdes International Tournament in Portugal.

CHIVAS USA U-16'S EARN VICTORY OVER ARSENAL FC:
The Chivas USA U-16 Team earned its second consecutive victory, blanking Arsenal FC 3-0 in a match played Saturday, April 26, at the Santa Ana Bowl. Chivas USA got three first half goals, including a pair of opportunistic finishes by striker Yohel de Jesus. Carlo Chueca also scored, lofting a 30-yard shot over the goalkeeper and into the upper corner of the net. The two consecutive wins, both against conference opponents, sees the U-16's starting their climb back up in the Southern California division of the Development Academy. The team now has a weekend off before facing Pateadores, currently in first place in the division, on May 10 at Cal State Fullerton.

CHIVAS USA U-18 DROP 3-1 DECISION TO FIRST-PLACE ARSENAL FC:
The Chivas USA U-18 Team fell by a 3-1 score to Arsenal FC, who currently sit in first place in the Southern California division of the Development Academy. Though Chivas USA started strong and created several opportunities, the team was not able to finish their chances, and Arsenal took advantage of defensive miscues to jump to a 2-0 lead. In the second half, Arsenal used a counter-attack to take a 3-0 lead before Mario Ledezma pulled a goal back for Chivas USA. Chivas USA now sits in fourth place in the division, four points behind the team's next opponent, Pateadores. The two teams will square off on May 10 at Cal State Fullerton in a critical match for both teams.

ALEXIS HERNANDEZ OF SOUTH VALLEY CHIVAS ACADEMY AT U.S. U-17 CAMP:
Alexis Hernandez, a member of the South Valley Chivas Academy, is currently practicing at a United States Under-17 National Team mini-camp in Bradenton, Fla., under head coach Wilmer Cabrera. The 26-player roster will be training from April 23 to April 27, and is made up of players born in 1992 and 1993. All the players are eligible for the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Egypt, and they are vying for a place in the Fall 2008 semester of U.S. Soccer's Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The South Valley Chivas Academy is one of 12 officially licensed Chivas soccer academies nationwide, that are independently owned and run.

CURRENT CHIVAS USA U-18 AND U-16 ROSTERS:
The rosters for Chivas USA's U-18 and U-16 Teams in the Development Academy were fixed on April 1 and will not undergo changes until after the end of the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy's 2007-08 season this summer. Full team rosters are listed below:

Chivas USA Under-18 Team Roster (As of April 1, 2008)

Head Coach: Sacha van der Most van Spijk
Assistant Coach: Refugio Mancilla

Chivas USA Under-16 Team Roster (As of April 1, 2008)

Head Coach: Samuel Rivas




Assistant Coach: Miguel Ramos

DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY OVERVIEW: The U.S Soccer Development Academy is a nationwide youth development initiative, organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation, featuring 63 of the top youth teams in the country competing in a league system at both the U-18 and U-16 levels. The first part of the season ran from October to November, and after a winter break the league has resumed play and will continue through the end of June. The 63 youth programs, including one U.S. Youth National Team in each age group, are divided into eight regions, each of which will send a single qualifier to the national finals to be held at The Home Depot Center after the regular season concludes in late June. For more information on the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy, please visit www.ussoccer.com.

Chivas USA plays at the Houston Dynamo next week before returning home for a Mothers' Day matchup against the New England Revolution on May 11. For tickets to the match, where all moms get in free, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.