FC DALLAS vs. CHIVAS USA
PIZZA HUT PARK, Frisco, Texas
March 30, 2008 | 2 p.m. CT (TeleFutura; FSN-PT)
WEEK # 1 | GAME # 6
A pair of clubs aiming to go deeper in the MLS Cup Playoffs do battle to kick off the 2008 campaign when Western Conference foes FC Dallas and Chivas USA meet at Pizza Hut Park. FC Dallas reached the postseason in Steve Morrow's first year in charge last year, but again didn't get past the first hurdle, a streak stretching from 1999. Chivas USA won the conference regular season title last year in just the club's third season, but also saw their year ended in the conference semifinals.
REFEREE: Mauricio Navarro. SAR (bench): C.J. Morgante; JAR (opposite): Craig Lowry; 4th: Richard Heron
MLS Career: 9 games; FC/gm: 36.6; Y/gm: 4.9; R: 3; pens: 0
Games involving FC Dallas: P1 W1 L0 T0; FC/gm: 39.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving Chivas USA: P1 W0 L0 T1; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 0; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT: FC DALLAS - OUT: FW Ricardinho (R ankle); DOUBTFUL: DF Duilio Davino (L knee); MF David Wagenfuhr (concussion) ... CHIVAS USA - OUT: DF Alex Zotinca (R knee ACL surgery)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: DAL: Drew Moor (through March 30); Arturo Alvarez (through March 30)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): FC Dallas 5 wins, 17 goals ... Chivas USA 3 wins, 14 goals ... Ties 3
AT DALLAS: (6 meetings): FC Dallas 3 wins, 8 goals ... Chivas USA 1 wins, 5 goals ... Ties 2
• This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with both encounters coming in the opening month of the campaign. This is the only meeting set for Pizza Hut Park; FC Dallas will make their lone visit to The Home Depot Center to face Chivas USA on April 20.
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/26: CHV 2, DAL 0 (Galindo 50; Razov 90)
7/4: DAL 2, CHV 0 (Nunez 41; Oduro 86)
10/11: DAL 0, CHV 0
• The teams split their season series last year, each winning by a 2-0 scoreline at home before they finished their set with a scoreless draw in Frisco.
• The FCD victory on July 4 of last year was their first against Chivas USA since June 11, 2006, a span of four matches (Chivas winning three).
• The first Chivas success in that run, a 3-0 win on July 1 in Carson, was the club's first-ever victory against FC Dallas, after the Hoops captured the first five meetings all-time.
• Coaches record: Steve Morrow v CHV: P3 W1 L1 D1 ... Preki vs. DAL: P3 W1 L1 D1
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas begin a season for the 12th time in 13 seasons in club history, hoping this year it leads to reaching the MLS Cup Final for the first time ever. Steve Morrow is in his second season in charge of the Hoops, taking the club to the Western Conference Semifinals where they pushed eventual MLS champion Houston Dynamo to extra time, before eventually going down at the first stage for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
• FCD completed their preseason schedule with a 2-1 victory against South American partner Clube Atletico Paranaense on March 22 at Pizza Hut Park, winning the USA/Brazil Challenge for the first time. FCD had claimed a 2-0 victory in Brazil on March 3.
• In a wild match that saw two CAP players sent off in the 39th minute and the match nearly abandoned by the referee, the Hoops overcame a 15th-minute goal from Leonardo Le with two in three minutes from David Wagenfuhr (35) and Pablo Richetti (37) - the second setting off the contretemps that almost ended the game early.
• Here's Morrow's team: Dario Sala, Alex Yi, Aaron Pitchkolan, Adrian Serioux (Drew Moor 80), Bobby Rhine, Pablo Ricchetti (Anthony Wallace 86), Marcelo Saragosa (Juan Toja 46), David Wagenfuhr (Blake Wagner 65), Andre Rocha (Brek Shea 75), Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 75), Ricardinho (Abe Thompson 46)
• "I was by no means pleased with how we played in the first 30 minutes," Morrow said. "I thought we came out sloppy and without enough intensity. But we got ourselves back in the game. We weren't quite sharp enough in the second half either. I think after there are two red cards in a game, it takes the shine off the whole game."
• After spending the preseason installing a three-back scheme, the centerpiece of that system - former Mexican international Duilio Davino - will not likely be available for the MLS season opener. Davino is suffering from a deep bone bruise on his right knee, seeing his last action on March 3, when he started and played 75 minutes for the Hoops in a 2-1 win against Brazilian side Malucelli during their 11-day trip to South America.
• In his absence, Aaron Pitchkolan will likely fill the center of the back three. "He's done well all through the preseason and came into preseason in good shape. He's a very reliable player and an important part of our roster. He steps in, whether it's in the middle of the back three or on the right or in the midfield when it's needed and does a solid job. I think he's looked very comfortable in that position."
• In addition, David Wagenfuhr is not likely to be available to fill the wide left role in the midfield, after suffering a concussion in days leading to the CAP match. And 19-year-old Ricardinho, expected to partner Kenny Cooper in attack with Arturo Alvarez suspended for the first game, is out with an ankle injury suffered in the match.
• "(Our depth) is a positive," Morrow said. "We do have a deep team and people ready to step in. But it's frustrating as well because you do want to have a settled lineup at the start of the season. But we have to make plans without players because of suspensions and injuries. It's not ideal but it's a chance for other guys to step up as well."
• A year ago, when the Hoops opened the season at Real Salt Lake, it was the first time in club history they had opened on the road. But once again FCD is back home to begin the league campaign, and the club won't leave Texas until Week Four of the season, with their first road trip to Houston.
• "That's why we wanted our last few preseason games at home, is to get in the right mode and frame of mind. It's great to start at home with a good game and then to go away to Houston in the second game is a big challenge to start off with," Morrow said. "But it's where we want to be a just what we're looking for to start the season, is two competitive games. We want to get good results in those games and push forward."
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA have been on a steady rise in their three years of existence. The club finished with the worst record in MLS in their inaugural season, reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in the second then claimed the Western Conference regular season crown last year. Preki returns for his second season in charge after guiding the club to the second-best record in MLS a season ago.
• Chivas USA concluded their preseason schedule with a 4-1 victory against Honduran side Real España on March 22 in Fullerton, Calif. Atiba Harris put the Red-and-White into the lead in the 32nd minute, then Chivas blew the game open with three goals in 11 minutes from Keith Savage (68), Francisco Mendoza (72), Alecko Eskandarian (78).
• Here's Preki's team: 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)
• After four matches in Cibolo, Texas against MLS competition - where Chivas lost each contest - the rojiblancos played four matches (all victories), two against college sides, one against a PDL team and the win against Real España.
• "We haven't played very many competitive preseason games on good fields so most of our games have been exercises in mentality and fighting for balls and sticking together, which is good," midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "I still think the soccer part of things is something that comes a little more naturally to our group than the mentality part. The preseason has been good on that end but maybe not as challenging as we would have liked."
• Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was nearly lost to Chivas for the season, but he was unable to secure a work permit after agreeing a transfer to Aston Villa in England. Then the U.S. national teamer suffered a knee sprain, but returned to the training field last week and should be ready for the opener.
• "I would say very close, within 5 percent if not 100 percent," Guzan said of his health status. "I feel a pull and a tug a little bit here and there when I'm striking the ball but the pain lasts only a few seconds which is a good sign according to our medical staff."
• However, defender Alex Zotinca could miss the entire season after partially tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament March 5 against D.C. United in Cibolo, Texas. The tear was diagnosed after an MRI late last week, and Zotinca will undergo reconstructive surgery.
• Just one player who logged more than 1,000 minutes will not be back with the club in 2008 (Ramon Nuñez), and the team has made two key offseason acquisitions. "You have a core group that has spent the majority of two seasons together now. It helps for sure. You see a lot of the successful teams in the league and they have the same core base," Ante Razov said. "However, every year you have a new challenge."
• Chivas added longtime Swiss international Raphael Wicky and MLS Cup 2004 Most Valuable Player Alecko Eskandarian into the fold. Wicky is a talented and experienced player who should help boost the midfield and overall level of play, while Eskandarian adds depth to the frontline.
• "This being the third season I've been here, we went from kind of a zero starting point to the next year being one step higher of a starting point and now being a step higher after that. Certainly we have 11 guys who have played a lot together on the field last year," Marsch said. "We feel good about our group. We understand each other and I think we understand how to get things done. We all understand Preki and now it's just trying to fine tune little things and mix in the new guys in the right way."
