Chivas USA has learned its schedule and opponents for SuperLiga 2009, the third annual competition that pits top soccer teams from Mexico and the United States against each other for local bragging rights and one of the biggest purses in the region, as Major League Soccer and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol today unveiled the participating teams, venues and schedule for the eight-team tournament, which kicks off on June 20 and concludes on Aug. 5.
Chivas USA, currently in first place in Major League Soccer with a 7-1-1 record (W-L-T) and 22 points, will open Group A action in SuperLiga on Saturday, June 20, when it hosts Mexican side Tigres UANL at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. The Red-and-White will then travel to face MLS foes the Chicago Fire on June 23 at Toyota Park, before returning home to host San Luis of Mexico on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or via cdchivasusa.com. A full schedule of SuperLiga matches is below.
"After making our international debut in SuperLiga 2008, Chivas USA looks forward to a competitive tournament again this year," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki Radosavljevic. "There is always a lot of passion and pride on the line whenever teams from Major League Soccer and the Mexican First Division face off against each other. Our goal is to do well in our group against Tigres, Chicago and San Luis and to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament."
Tickets for Chivas USA's SuperLiga matches at The Home Depot Center are on sale starting today via 1-877-CHIVAS-1. The games vs. Tigres and San Luis are Bonus Games A and B, respectively, for Chivas USA Season Seat Holders, who for a limited time have the exclusive right to purchase individual SuperLiga tickets. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for either game, starting at just $12 per person. For individuals or groups of 19 or fewer, the SuperLiga Two-Pack and Three-Pack get fans into a SuperLiga match, plus Chivas USA's July 11 game vs. the LA Galaxy, starting at just $24. For more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 o visit cdchivasusa.com.
For the 2009 edition of SuperLiga, competitive criteria determined which four teams would represent their respective leagues. The top four MLS teams based on their 2008 regular season record, who are not competing in CONCACAF Champions League in 2009, qualified for SuperLiga 2009: Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Chivas USA and Kansas City Wizards.
The invited FMF clubs, representing Mexico's Primera División was based on their record (highest number of points) in the 2008 Clausura and 2008 Apertura season, except those teams that qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. For the FMF clubs who declined on the invitation, the next club in line based on points was invited. Therefore, the four participating Mexican clubs are: Tigres UANL, currently led by Omar Bravo, Francisco Fonseca and Lucas Lobos; San Luis, which features veteran midfielder Braulio Luna and U.S. National Team player and SoCal product Michael Orozco; Santos Laguna, led by national team star Oswaldo Sanchez; and Atlas, the young and exciting club led by former Mexican national team coach Ricardo Lavolpe.
This year, Chivas USA will look to continue its current good run of form improve on its 1-1-1 (W-L-T) performance in SuperLiga 2008, when in three electrifying matches the Red-and-White failed to advance from group play despite defeating Mexican champion Santos Laguna, tying New England Revolution and losing to Mexican powerhouse Pachuca.
During the inaugural edition of SuperLiga, CF Pachuca defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in a dramatic match decided by penalty kicks at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Aug. 30, 2007. In 2008, the all-MLS final saw the New England Revolution defeat the Houston Dynamo in another memorable set of penalty kicks at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
"SuperLiga continues to showcase the rivalry between MLS and Mexican league clubs, and we expect to see intense matches once again this summer," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "SuperLiga kicks off an incredible summer of soccer that includes the CONCACAF Gold Cup, World Cup qualifiers and MLS teams playing international clubs FC Barcelona, Chelsea and AC Milan."
"At FMF, we look forward to our clubs participating in SuperLiga and reclaiming the title," said FMF President Justino Compeán. "SuperLiga has been a complete success in its past editions, and in such an important soccer year, we expect nothing less for the 2009 version."
The entire tournament will once again broadcast live primetime by TeleFutura Network in the United States. A live webcast in English will also be available via www.SuperLiga2009.com. The semifinal and final information will be announced once teams are decided.
The SuperLiga field of teams is divided into two groups, each with two representatives from the respective leagues:
Group A |
Group B |
|---|---|
Chicago Fire |
New England Revolution |
Chivas USA |
Kansas City Wizards |
San Luis |
Santos Laguna |
Tigres UANL |
Atlas |
SUPERLIGA™ 2009 SCHEDULE
(All Times Eastern) / Subject to change
Saturday, June 20
Chicago Fire vs. San Luis (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill) 20:00
Chivas USA vs. Tigres UANL (The Home Depot Center - Carson, Calif.) 22:00
Sunday, June 21
Kansas City Wizards vs. Atlas (Venue TBD - St. Louis, Mo.) 16:30 [For tickets to this game in St.Louis, please call toll-free 877-828-7222]
NE Revolution vs. Santos Laguna (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.) 18:30
Tuesday, June 23
Chicago Fire vs. Chivas USA (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill.) 20:00
San Luis vs. Tigres UANL (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill.) 22:00
Wednesday, June 24
NE Revolution vs. Kansas City Wizards (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.) 19:00
Santos Laguna vs. Atlas (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.) 21:00
Saturday, June 27
Chicago Fire vs. Tigres UANL (Toyota Park - Bridgeview, Ill.) 20:00
Chivas USA vs. San Luis (The Home Depot Center - Carson, Calif.) 22:00
Sunday, June 28
NE Revolution vs. Atlas (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.) 16:30
KC Wizards vs. Santos Laguna (CommunityAmerica Ballpark - Kansas City, Mo.) 18:30
Wednesday, July 15
Semifinal 1 (TBD)
Semifinal 2 (TBD)
Wednesday, August 5
Final (TBD)
About Chivas USA
Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in just four seasons in Major League Soccer. In 2008, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row, to the delight of its passionate supporters, while making its international debut in SuperLiga and the CONCACAF Champions League. In addition, the club's innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the Chivas USA youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region's best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please visit cdchivasusa.com.
About Major League Soccer:
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 14th season on March 19, and will feature 15 teams each playing 30 regular season matches. They include Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC and, in its inaugural season, Seattle Sounders FC. Philadelphia Union will debut in 2010, while expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official website at www.MLSnet.com.
About Mexican Federation's First Division:
The Mexican First Division, the top flight professional league of the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol (FMF), features a total of 18 teams who vie for the championship decided by a playoff system known as "la Liguilla", is home to some of Latin America's top players and teams who are considered some of the best in this hemisphere. Mexican clubs have shown their quality not just within their own country but also the Americas' most prestigious competitions. For more information, visit the Federation's official site: www.femexfut.org.mx.
