CHIVAS USA CROSSES THE MOUNTAINS TO FACE COLORADO:
After coming up with a big win on Saturday night against D.C. United, Chivas USA looks to maintain its good form when the Red-and-White hit the road for a match against the Colorado Rapids this Saturday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT). The match will be broadcast live on FSN Prime Ticket and W Radio 690 AM, with pregame shows on TV and radio beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT. The Rapids are currently leading the Western Conference with 12 points and a 4-4-0 record (W-L-T), while Chivas USA sits four points off the pace with a 2-4-2 record so far this season. A week after facing Colorado, Chivas USA returns home for a rematch against another division leader, the Columbus Crew, who beat Chivas USA 4-3 earlier this season and currently sit atop the Eastern Conference. For information on the match, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
RAPIDS UPDATE: With four wins and four losses so far in 2008, the Colorado Rapids currently hold the top spot in the Western Conference, beating Real Salt Lake 2-0 on Thursday, May 15 to hold on to their lead. Forward Omar Cummings leads the team in goals so far with three, though former D.C. United playmaker Christian Gomez is the driving force in the Rapids attack, adding two goals to go along with his four assists. Senegalese goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has been strong in net for Colorado, posting a 1.12 goals against average and four shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY: The Red-and-White own a 3-4-4 record (W-L-T) all-time against the Rapids, though Chivas USA is 3-1-3 versus Colorado since the start of the 2006 season, with the only loss coming last October at The Home Depot Center. Chivas USA has never won in Colorado; in the five road games against the Rapids, the Red-and-White have one loss and four ties. In the series, each team has scored 17 goals, with Dedi Ben Dayan scoring five for the Rapids, and three different players tied with two goals for Chivas USA.
CHIVAS USA EARNS FIRSTS AGAINST D.C. UNITED ON SATURDAY: Midfielders Jesse Marsch and Sacha Kljestan scored in a four-minute span during the second half to spark Chivas USA to a 3-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. Down 1-0 at halftime due to a great goal from D.C. playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, Chivas USA responded, getting a goal from Marsch in the 73rd minute and another from Kljestan, his team-leading fourth of the season, in minute 76. Jorge Flores scored his first Major League Soccer goal in just his second-ever appearance in minute 82 to seal the victory for the Red-and-White, who had never before come from behind to win a match. It was also the first time in history that Chivas USA defeated D.C. United.
FLORES NOMINATED FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK: Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Flores has been nominated for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week today for his 82nd minute goal against D.C. United on Saturday night. The 2007 Sueño MLS Winner took a pass from Atiba Harris and one-timed a shot past Zach Wells in the D.C. net for Flores' first goal in MLS, in just his second appearance. Fans can vote by following this link and checking out all the goals nominated this week.
SECOND 'PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITY' BRINGS FANS TO BELL GARDENS: Hundreds of fans came out to the Bell Gardens Sports Center Sunday morning to be a part of Chivas USA's second 'Practice in the Community', hosted by the City of Bell Gardens Recreation and Community Services Department. Fans in attendance were treated to a close-up view of Chivas USA's full team going through a training session, the morning after the Red-and-White earned a 3-1 victory over D.C. United. Immediately after the practice, supporters got a chance to speak with the players, take photographs, and get autographs from the team.
CHIVAS USA PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR ALL-STAR VOTING: Twelve Chivas USA stars have been announced as eligible for selection to the 2008 MLS All-Star Team, which will take on English Premier League side West Ham United on July 24 in Toronto. Fans can vote online by visiting www.MLSnet.com before July 2, and the All-Star 'First XI' will be announced on July 10. The Chivas USA players eligible are goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defenders Jonathan Bornstein, Claudio Suárez, Shavar Thomas and Lawson Vaughn, midfielders Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza, Paulo Nagamura and Raphaël Wicky, and forwards Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov.
BRAD GUZAN AND SACHA KLJESTAN NAMED TO U.S. NATIONAL TEAM 33-PLAYER POOL: Chivas USA players Brad Guzan and Sacha Kljestan have been named to the United States Men's National Team's 33-player pool for upcoming friendlies against England, Spain, and Argentina. Guzan, the 2007 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and Kljestan, a midfielder who leads the Red-and-White in scoring in 2008, could be called into the squad for any of the friendlies, which take place May 28 (England, in London), June 4 (Spain, in Santander), and June 8 (Argentina, in New Jersey). The exact team for the match in England is expected to be named early this week.
PREVIEW AND POST-GAME VIDEOS ON CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BLOG: Chivas USA's official blog, 'Dentro del Rebaño' (or 'Inside the Flock') is online with updated content from the team, including video previews of upcoming games, as well as post-match videos. Media and fans can find a wrap up of Saturday night's match with D.C. United, featuring interviews with Head Coach Preki, and midfielders Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, and Jorge Flores. Later in the week, two preview videos (one in English, one in Spanish) will give additional information and interviews about the match with the Colorado Rapids. Check http://chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!
TEAM INJURY UPDATE: Saturday night's game against D.C., Chivas USA was missing nine members of its team, including six defenders. Out for the match were defenders Jonathan Bornstein (L knee LCL sprain), Carey Talley (R quad strain), Claudio Suárez (R hamstring strain), Shavar Thomas (L hamstring strain), Lawson Vaughn (facial fracture), and Alex Zotinca (R knee ACL surgery), as well as midfielder Raphaël Wicky (R ankle sprain) and forwards Alecko Eskandarian (L groin strain) and Maykel Galindo (R groin strain). These players will continue their road to recovery this week as Chivas USA resumes training Tuesday at The Home Depot Center; for more detailed information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY, MAY 24 AT PAN PACIFIC PARK IN FAIRFAX DISTRICT: 'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this coming Saturday, May 24, with a clinic at Pan Pacific Park at 7600 Beverly Blvd. 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 Sylmar Recreation Center at 13109 Borden Avenue in Sylmar on May 17. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
JORGE FLORES 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, Cervantez and Gamboa will speak with 2007 'Sueño MLS' winner Jorge Flores, who scored his first career goal this past Saturday night against D.C. United. Fans will also have the chance to win tickets to the Chivas USA match against the Columbus Crew on May 31. All this and more on 'Pasión Chivas USA.'
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.
CHIVAS USA BIRTHDAYS: Chivas USA midfielder Kraig Chiles, a rookie midfielder out of San Diego State University, celebrated his 24th birthday on May 14. A trio of Chivas USA players celebrated their birthdays in the month of April. Defender Lawson Vaughn turned 24 on April 11, midfielder Raphaël Wicky, a Swiss international, celebrated his 31st birthday on April 26, the day of the first Honda Super Clásico, and Chivas USA original 'Panchito' Mendoza turned 23 on April 29.
