RED-AND-WHITE RETURN HOME TO FACE FC DALLAS THIS SUNDAY: Chivas USA returns home for the team's second and final meeting of the season with FC Dallas, this Sunday, April 20, at 5:00 p.m. PT. The two teams met on the opening weekend of the 2008 season, with Chivas USA earning a point in the 1-1 draw. Dallas, led by former Club América star Duilio Davino, will be looking for revenge against the Red-and-White. After ties in its first two matches of the season, Dallas beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on April 12, leaving FCD as one of two teams, with Chicago, still undefeated so far in MLS action. Tickets for the game, starting at just $14, are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or by visiting www.cdchivasusa.com, and the first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a limited edition Chivas USA 'Come Celebrate' t-shirt.
CHIVATOWN RETURNS TO HOME DEPOT CENTER IN 2008: ChivaTown, an interactive fan zone at Chivas USA home games, will make a return for 10 Red-and-White home games in 2008. First introduced in the 2005 season, ChivaTown quickly became a fan favorite and will be featured at Sunday's match against Dallas. ChivaTown includes a replica of Los Arcos, the traditional gateway into Guadalajara, as well as the Chivas Hall of Fame, complete with a history of both Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara. Fans in ChivaTown can also find traditional Mexican food, as well as live music, performed this week by Sector Libertad, a Los Angeles rock band.
CHIVAS USA DROPS THRILLER IN COLUMBUS: Chivas USA fought back from a 3-1 deficit and received long-range strikes from Sacha Kljestan and Paulo Nagamura but couldn't hold on against the Columbus Crew this past Saturday in Ohio, losing an exciting 4-3 match. After Chivas USA gave up a first-half penalty, Kljestan tied the game at one with his curling 20-yard shot to the top corner, a shot that has earned a Goal of the Week nomination for the midfielder. The Crew responded with a goal before halftime to make the score 2-1, and then added a third goal in the 71st minute. Less than a minute later, Marsch pulled a goal back, and in the 78th minute, Nagamura hit another 20-yard shot to tie the game at three. The lead didn't last, however, as the Crew scored the game winning goal in minute 82. Chivas USA then lost midfielders Francisco Mendoza and Kljestan to red cards, and the pair will miss the upcoming match against Dallas.
KLJESTAN UP FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK: Sacha Kljestan's amazing 33rd-minute strike against Columbus is up for MLS Goal of the Week, with voting now open for the honor on MLSnet.com. The goal came after defender Jonathan Bornstein crossed a ball into the middle of the field for rookie midfielder Keith Savage, who then laid the ball off to Kljestan. Running up to the ball, the third-year midfielder curled his shot with the inside of his right foot to the far post, past the outstretched arms of Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer. Kljestan is looking to win Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honors for the second time in his career after earning the accolade in the first week of 2007.
ANTE RAZOV TO APPEAR ON FOX FOOTBALL FONE-IN: Chivas USA fans will be able to catch striker Ante Razov, Major League Soccer's second all-time leading scorer, on tonight's Fox Football Fone-In, hosted by Steven Cohen and Nick Webster. Razov will appear to talk about the 2008 Chivas USA season, and will answer fan questions on the live program. The show begins at 5:00 p.m. PT and runs until 7:00 p.m. PT.
INJURY UPDATE: Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian will travel to Germany this week for evaluation and potential surgery on his injured groin, meeting with specialist Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich. Eskandarian arrives in Munich on Wednesday, meets with Dr. Muschaweck on Thursday, returns to the U.S. on Saturday and will miss Sunday's match against Dallas. A trio of Chivas USA players are all listed as questionable for Sunday's match after missing last weekend's game against Columbus: forward Ante Razov (left calf strain); defender Lawson Vaughn (left hamstring strain) and midfielder Raphaël Wicky (back spasms). Forward Maykel Galindo (right groin strain) played the second half against Columbus and is listed as probable for Sunday's match, while defender Alex Zotinca recently underwent reconstruction surgery on his right ACL, and will be out for 6-9 months.
PACHUCA ADDED TO CHIVAS USA'S INCREDIBLE $50 FIVE-GAME PACK: Fans looking to see Chivas USA in 2008 have an opportunity to watch the five biggest games of the season with the Chivas USA Five-Game Pack, Southern California's best sports entertainment value, with packages starting at just $50. A recent addition to the pack is Chivas USA highly anticipated SuperLiga debut on July 13 against Pachuca FC of Mexico's First Division, at The Home Depot Center. Also included in the set are matches on June 19 against the Chicago Fire, July 5 versus the San Jose Earthquakes, Aug. 14 against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the closing game of the season, which doubles as Fan Appreciation night, Oct. 25 against the Houston Dynamo. For more information please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 19 AT RANCHO CIENEGA SPORTS COMPLEX: 'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this coming Saturday, April 19, with a clinic at the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex at 5001 Rodeo Road in Los Angeles. Run in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, 'Kick-it' is a series of clinics that emphasize physical fitness, sports, and education for as many as 400 children at each of 40 locations throughout the year. A five-dollar fee gets participants 90 minutes of instruction, a voucher for a free ticket to a Chivas USA game, a t-shirt, soccer ball, and Certificate of Completion. Most recently, Chivas USA held a clinic at the Hansen Dam Recreation Area at 11770 Foothill Boulevard in Los Angeles on April 19. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
FANS TO SPEAK ON THIS WEEK'S 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA': Join Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez this Thursday on W Radio 690 AM, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. PT for 'Pasión Chivas USA', the team's official weekly radio program. This week's show will feature insight interviews with some of Chivas USA's most passionate fans. The show will also offer listeners the chance to win tickets for the Chivas USA match against FC Dallas at 5:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 20th, at The Home Depot Center. All this and more on this week's 'Pasión Chivas USA.'
APRIL BIRTHDAYS: A trio of Chivas USA players celebrate their birthdays in the month of April. Defender Lawson Vaughn, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2007, turned 24 on April 11, the day before the Red-and-White's game at Columbus. Offseason signing Raphaël Wicky, a Swiss international midfielder, celebrates his 31st birthday on April 26, the day that Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy play the first Honda SuperClasico of 2008. Finally, Chivas USA original 'Panchito' Mendoza will turn 23 on April 29.
