Club Deportivo Chivas USA received a wake-up call Wednesday.
The U.S. national team routed Chivas USA 7-0 at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday morning. The USA featured a lineup full of Major League Soccer players, including Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman who each scored two goals in the rout.
Coach Thomas Rongen said the humbling loss will not be a roadblock for the club.
"It's always good to play against good competition and give our players a sense of what they can expect in MLS as part of our preparation," he said.
However, Chivas USA had two players injured during the match. Starting 'keeper Martin Zuñiga injured his knee when he came down awkwardly. Zuñiga, a senior international, is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Thursday.
Also, midfielder Armando Begines was taken to a local hospital with a possible broken collarbone. Begines went up for a ball and landed on his shoulder. Defender Jesus Ochoa said he saw Begines' collarbone protruding from his chest.
"Today wasn't a good day at the office but one bad day can't deter from our plan to be ready on April 2," Rongen said.
The U.S. went up early, with Real Salt Lake striker Clint Mathis scoring in the opening minutes. New England's Noonan, who was the league's scoring co-champion last year, bagged his first goal off a corner kick and completed his double with a shot near the edge of the penalty area.
After Zuñiga's left with his knee injury, Brad Guzan came on for the rest of the match. Late in the first half, FC Dallas striker Eddie Johnson slipped an 18-yard shot past Guzan to up the margin to 4-0.
In the second half, Revolution forward Twellman continued the onslaught, scoring two goals early in the half. Galaxy defender Chris Albright punctuated the scoring with a 20-yard blast from the left side of penalty area.
"It's just one of those games," said Ochoa, who has started at center back in each of the past three friendlies. "We still need to work more on everything with all new players and everyone getting used to each other. We should pick it up but today was a tough loss."
Chivas USA will get a chance to make amends quickly. The club will host the San Jose Earthquakes in a friendly on Friday.
"It probably will be more (even) against San Jose and when we play Real Salt Lake as well," Rongen said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject tothe approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
