CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA's U-19 team competed its participation in the Copa Saprissa, amassing two wins, two losses and one tie to finish third in six-team Group A with seven points. This was the first international tournament for Chivas USA's fledgling U-19 program, one of the club's main Futbol Education initiatives. Chivas USA was the only MLS club to make the trip to Costa Rica. The team - led by local players such as Erik Hummel, Felipe Miranda, Pedro Ochoa, Gabriel Farfán and Luis Silva - is due to return to Southern California on Monday, June 5.
"In [the Copa Saprissa] we showed the rest of the world what the future of Chivas USA is capable of, and how far Major League Soccer has come. We played against some of the best youth teams in the world and had some very exciting games against all our opponents," said Dennis te Kloese, Chivas USA's Director of Football, who headed the 23-man, 19-player delegation to the second annual youth tournament, sponsored by Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa.
Last Saturday, in their international debut, the young Chivas USA squad lost 1-0 to Real Madrid. However, Chivas USA would recover with a 3-2 victory over Olimpia of Honduras on Sunday. The team's second win was a 1-0 victory over current Costa Rican champion Santos on Monday. On Tuesday, the Red-and-White drew 3-3 with Cruzeiro and on Wednesday, in their final match, the team lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Saprissa's U-19 team.
Gabriel Farfán of San Diego, California was leading scorer for Chivas USA and third overall in the first round of play, with 3 goals. Although their tournament is officially over, the Chivas USA U-19's will play a friendly against sister club Chivas de Guadalajara, which finished fourth in six-team Group B at 10:00 a.m. local time tomorrow Friday at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, home to the tournament. They team will also attend the final, to be played this Sunday at Estadio Saprissa.
Chivas USA Lineup vs. Saprissa U-19 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006): Felipe Miranda, Ernest Mariscal, Juan Frésquez (Jorge Vásquez 60), Eder Robles; Edson Rivera (Erik Hummel 55), Eric Ávila, Pedro Ochoa, Luís Silva (Brandynn Elwart 60); William Molina, Gabriel Farfán, Arturo Brambila.
The Chivas USA U-19's will return to Southern California on Monday, June 5.
For more information on the Copa Saprissa and Chivas USA's Soccer Education programs, please visit www.copasaprissa.com or www.cdchivasusa.com.
Players that participated in Copa Saprissa for Chivas USA:
Name Hometown
Felipe Miranda Anaheim
Chris Cortéz Mission Viejo
Juan Frésquez West Covina
Erik Hummel Rancho Santa Fe
Jorge Vásquez Carlsbad
Edson Rivera Lynwood
Brandynn Ealwart Las Vegas
Pedro Ochoa Long Beach
William Molina Van Nuys
Eric Ávila Santa Barbara
Luis Silva Bakersfield
Joseph Torres Long Beach
Eder Robles Lynwood
Arturo Brambila San Pedro
Joshua DiDion Fullerton
Ernest Mariscal Anaheim
Michael Farfán San Diego
Manuel Tejada Santa Ana
Gabriel Farfán San Diego
Technical Staff:
Dennis te Kloese Director of Football
Sacha van der Most van Spijk Coach
Isidro Torres Coach
Andrew Ziemer Technical Assistant
