CARSON, Calif. - After two well-earned draws on the road, Chivas USA (5-5-3, 18 pts) returns home this week to The Home Depot Center looking to extend its unbeaten streak to five games with a pair of exciting match-ups versus Major League Soccer's two Texas franchises, the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas. The Red-and-White face the Dynamo in a midweek match on Wednesday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. PT (TV: FSN PRIME TICKET; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio; Web: MLSLIVE.tv), before taking on FC Dallas on Saturday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m. PT (TV: FSN PRIME TICKET; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio; Web: MLSLIVE.tv). For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit the club's official website, www.cdchivasusa.com.
WEDNESDAY VERSUS DYNAMO: Wednesday's match marks Chivas USA's first-ever encounter with the Houston Dynamo (6-3-4, 22 pts), which currently sits in second place in the Western Conference; the teams will play each other three more times this season. The Dynamo, whose stars include returning U.S. World Cup forward Brian Ching and Salvadorean international Ronald Cerritos, are coming off a 0-0 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night at The Home Depot Center, and will train Tuesday at The Home Depot Center. Fans will receive a limited-edition Oswaldo Sánchez bobblehead, while supplies last, as part of the team's special 'Chivas World Cup Veterans' bobblehead series, as well as a special gift card courtesy of The Home Depot.
SATURDAY VERSUS FC DALLAS: Chivas USA will play its second match of the season against FC Dallas, having fallen 2-1 to the Hoops at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco on June 11, on goals by Carlos Ruiz and Roberto Mina. FC Dallas (8-2-3, 27 pts) currently sits in first place in the Western Conference and is coming off a 1-0 win Saturday over the Colorado Rapids on a goal by Kenny Cooper. For Saturday's game, fans will receive a limited-edition Claudio Suárez bobblehead, while supplies last, as part of the team's 'Chivas World Cup Veterans' bobblehead series, as well as a special Chivas USA ballcap courtesy of RadioShack.
SUÁREZ AND O'BRIEN RETURN TO THE FOLD: Chivas USA defender Claudio Suárez and midfielder John O'Brien will be joining the team this week following their respective stays in Germany with the Mexico and United States national teams. O'Brien logged 45 minutes as a second-half sub in the Americans' opening-game loss to the Czech Republic, while Suárez, who started in several pre-tournament warmup games for Mexico, did not see action in the tournament. Mexico suffered a heartbreaking second-round loss, 2-1, to Argentina on Saturday following an overtime goal by Maxi Rodríguez, while the United States failed to advance from Group E after losing to the Czechs and Ghana and drawing with Italy.
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: On Thursday, June 29, Chivas USA players Ramón Ramírez and Rodrigo López will attend a press conference in Santa Barbara, California to promote the team's opening match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will take place at Harder Stadium on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara on Wednesday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. Details of the press conference, including time and location, will be announced shortly. In this third-round U.S. Open Cup match, Chivas USA will face the winner of Wednesday's second-round tie between Miami FC (USL-1) and Roma FC (USASA) of Dallas, Texas. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the nation's oldest annual team sports tournament.
MCDONALD'S FAN PACK: Chivas USA and McDonald's have partnered up to offer the McDonald's Fan Pack for select games during the 2006 season. For just $49, fans will get a chance to experience great soccer excitement along with great meals from McDonald's. The package will include: 4 Chivas USA tickets, 2 Extra Value Meals and 2 Happy Meals, and can be purchased exclusively by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1. Packages will be available the following remaining home dates: June 28 (Houston Dynamo); July 15 (Los Angeles Galaxy); September 3 (D.C. United); September 9 (FC Dallas) and October 15 (Real Salt Lake).
GUADALAJARA UPDATE: Club Deportivo Guadalajara, continues training in Guadalajara in preparation for the second leg of its Copa Libertadores match with Vélez Sarsfield. Last Wednesday, Guadalajara beat Autlán of the Mexican Second Division in its second preseason friendly. Goals for Chivas came from Emilio López, Alberto Medina and Sergio Santana in a match played on the Fausto Prieto field of the Verde Valle sports complex. Guadalajara will face off against Velez on July 20 in Buenos Aires in the quarterfinals of South America's biggest club tournament.
BARCELONA COMING TO LOS ANGELES: UEFA Champions League winner and Spanish champion Barcelona will be in Los Angeles on August 6 to face Club Deportivo Guadalajara at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Ronaldinho, Messi, Márquez and Eto'o will be among the stars that will face the Mexican squad in the doubleheader that will also include Chivas USA vs. the New England Revolution, starting at 4:00 p.m. PT. For more information on this exciting doubleheader, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
VIRGEN OF MIRACLES: The Virgin of Zapopan continues her journey through Southern California. This week, the Virgin will be at the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón in Ventura (10800 Henderson Road, 805-647-0636) and the Iglesia de Santa Rosa de Lima in San Fernando (668 South Workman Street, 818-361-4617). The ChivaTroca will continue to transport this revered statue of the Virgin Mary throughout her pilgrimage to over a dozen Southern California churches, ending with a special mass at The Home Depot Center on July 15, the date of the third 'Honda Super Clasico' of 2006.
CHIVAS USA FUTBOL ACADEMY: Chivas USA proudly announces that the new Chivas USA Futbol Academy at the Bell Gardens Sports Center will open its doors on Wednesday, July 5. In the meantime, the Academy continues training at The Home Depot Center's Field 5 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. For more information please contact Gianmarco Laserna at (310) 630-3603.
TUNE IN TO 'SANGRE CHIVA': Be sure to tune in every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. PT to 'Sangre Chiva', Chivas USA's unique weekly radio show on KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Hipólito Gamboa and former Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara goalkeeper Martín Zúñiga, the hour-long program features exclusive interviews, match analysis, and special ticket offers, as well as all the latest Chivas USA news and happenings.
WATCH 'SOMOS CHIVAS USA': Don't miss this and every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT 'Somos Chivas USA', the Red-and-White's official weekly television program on KAZA Azteca 54, the Spanish-language television broadcast partner of Chivas USA. Recorded every week at The Home Depot Center, this 30-minute show gives fans an exclusive insider's look at the world of Chivas USA.
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 26 - JULY 2
Monday, June 26: [Day off]
Tuesday, June 27: Training, 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 28: Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo, The Home Depot Center, 7:30 p.m. PT (TV: FSN PRIME TICKET; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio; Web: MLSLIVE.tv).
Thursday, June 29: Training, 10:00 a.m.
Friday, June 30: Training, 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 1: Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas, The Home Depot Center, 7:00 p.m. PT (TV: FSN PRIME TICKET; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio; Web: MLSLIVE.tv).
Sunday, July 2: [Day off]
*Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific and all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center. Media access provided after games and trainings. For latest information, contact Chivas USA's Communications Department.
