Weekly Update: Hosting Sounders FC

UNDEFEATED CHIVAS USA TO FACE SEATTLE ON SATURDAY IN BATTLE OF TOP TWO TEAMS IN MLS:
Undefeated through the first four games (three wins and a draw, 10 pts), Chivas USA sits alone at the top of the MLS standings, and will host the expansion Seattle Sounders FC this Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. The Sounders (3-1-0, 9 pts), despite a 1-0 loss to Kansas City last weekend, trail the Red-and-White by just one point and have the second best mark in the league. Featuring head coach Sigi Schmid, who led the Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup last year and has previously coached both the LA Galaxy and UCLA, the Sounders have conceded just one goal through their first four games, but will be missing goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who received a red card against Kansas City. The first 10,000 fans through the gate for the April 18 match will receive a special edition Chivas USA Cinch Backpack, courtesy of Time Warner Cable. For more information on the game, or to purchase tickets, please visit cdchivasusa.com or call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

RED-AND-WHITE MOVE TO TOP OF THE LEAGUE AFTER SUPER CLÁSICO DRAW: Chivas USA continued its undefeated start to the season and reached the top spot in MLS with a 0-0 draw 'at' the LA Galaxy on Saturday night, improving the team's record to 3-0-1 (W-L-T). Chivas USA held the edge in shots, 12-8, with Eduardo Lillingston, Paulo Nagamura, and Sacha Kljestan all forcing diving saves from Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Zach Thornton recorded four saves for the Red-and-White to earn his second shutout of the year in a match where a total of nine cards were given out, including three red cards. Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura was dismissed just before halftime for his second yellow card and will miss this Saturday's game against Seattle, while the Galaxy's Alan Gordon received his second yellow in minute 71, and Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter received a straight red for a tackle in the 79th minute that prevented a breakaway for Red-and-White forward Alecko Eskandarian.

CHIVAS USA TO HOLD SECOND 'PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITY' OF 2009 AT MONTEBELLO HIGH SCHOOL: Undefeated Chivas USA will hold its second 'Practice in the Community' of 2009 at Montebello High School this Sunday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. PT. The event will include a practice session of Chivas USA's first-team squad, followed by an opportunity for fans to take photos, get autographs and meet players. Presented by the Montebello Unified School District, Sunday's practice will take place at Montebello High School, located at 2100 West Cleveland Ave. in Montebello. The event, the second in series of training sessions that Chivas USA holds each month across Southern California, will give fans the unique opportunity, free of cost, to come out and watch, up close, the practice session of a professional soccer team.

EL CAMINO REAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS WEEK'S YOUTH SOCCER SPOTLIGHT: For Chivas USA's game this Saturday against Seattle Sounders FC, the Youth Soccer Spotlight will highlight the El Camino Real High School Boys Soccer Team, the CIF City and State Champions. Coaches David Hussey and Ian Kogan helped the team to a 24-3-3 record. The Youth Soccer Spotlight is a program that debuted earlier this year and features a local soccer team or club at every home game for the Red-and-White this season. The team will be highlighted on Chivas USA broadcasts, as well as on the field prior to the game, and will even get the chance to have a team photo on the Red-and-White's bench. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth Soccer Spotlight, or to sign your team up, please contact Chris Wode at cwode@cdchivasusa.com, or by calling 310-630-4581.

SOUTH GATE HIGH SCHOOL IS SATURDAY'S BAND OF THE GAME: Chivas USA will feature one local band at each of its home games in 2009, and at the match on April 18, students from the South Gate High School Band will perform before and during the match. Also being honored on Saturday night as Chivas USA's Schools of the Game are Bell High School of Bell, and Banning High School of Wilmington, who will have students in attendance at the game.

INJURY UPDATE: Several Chivas USA players are still recovering from offseason surgeries and other injuries; Alecko Eskandarian, returning from a left hip strain, made his first appearance of 2009 against the Galaxy, entering the match at the start of the second half and drawing a red card against Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter. For a full copy of the latest Chivas USA Injury Report, please visit MLSnet.com.

CHIVAS USA INJURY REPORT (As of Friday, 4/10):

CHIVAS USA DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY TEAMS TAKE ON ARSENAL FC THIS SATURDAY: The Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 Teams had a bye week after each earned 3-1 victories over the Irvine Strikers on Saturday, April 4 at Concordia University in Irvine. The U-16's kicked off first and received goals from Alexis Flores, Jesus Fuentes, and Alberto Velasquez, and the U-18's followed and the goalscorers were Bryan de la Fuente and Jesse Paredes, who had two goals. It was the second consecutive win for the U-16's and the third straight for the U-18's, who will both face Arsenal FC at UC-Riverside on Saturday, April 18, in their next matches. The U-18's currently hold a record of 12-5-3 (W-L-T), while the U-16's are 8-6-6 in the 2008-09 season. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth System, please visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t120/youth.

'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA' THIS THURSDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PT: Fans can tune in to 'Pasión Chivas USA', airing this Thursday night from 5-6 p.m. PT on W Radio 690 AM. Hosts Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez, who also serve as play-by-play and color commentator for every Chivas USA match of the 2009 MLS season, will preview Saturday's home match against expansion club Seattle Sounders FC, a game which will feature the top two teams in Major League Soccer. The official weekly radio program of the Red-and-White, 'Pasión Chivas USA' covers everything on the Major League Soccer club, from match commentary, recent news from the team, interviews, contests to win tickets to Chivas USA matches, as well as phone calls from fans listening to the show.

DON'T MISS 'SOMOS CHIVAS USA' THIS SATURDAY AT SPECIAL TIME ON KAZA AZTECA 54: Fans, don't miss Chivas USA's official weekly TV show, "Somos Chivas USA'. Featuring renowned co-hosts Mara Almada and Antonio Rosique, with reporting by renowned Chiva-expert Ramón Diaz, 'Somos Chivas USA' gives viewers an inside look at the Red-and-White, including player features, match analysis, highlights, and much more. This week's 'Somos Chivas USA' is scheduled to air on KAZA Azteca 54 in Los Angeles at 9:30 p.m. PT, after the live broadcast of the Red-and-White's match against Seattle Sounders FC. Fans can catch the highlights and atmosphere from the Seattle match, as well as special features and commentaries on Chivas USA. Tune in this Saturday for your 'Somos Chivas USA!'

CHIVAS DE GUADALAJARA UPDATE: Chivas de Guadalajara earned an important point this past weekend, coming from 2-0 down to tie Atlante 2-2 on the road. The result moves the team into third place in Group 2 of the Mexican First Division with a record of 4-5-4 (W-L-T), good for 16 points, just one behind archrival América. Chivas and América will now face each other this Sunday in a Clásico at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. In last Saturday's game, Guadalajara fell 2-0 down in the first half before Ramón Morales notched a penalty just before halftime to bring the game to 2-1. Atlante's Luis Venegas scored an own goal with 20 minutes remaining in the match to knot the game at 2-2.

CHIVAS USA 2009 SEASON SEATS: Chivas USA's 18-game Season Seat Package, starting at just $180, is on sale via 1-877-CHIVAS-1 and cdchivasusa.com. The package includes a seat at each of the team's 15 MLS home matches, as well as three bonus games to be announced. Season Seat holders also have the right to exchange unused tickets, plus a host of other benefits. For more information, or to purchase your Season Seat today, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

VISIT 'DENTRO DEL REBAÑO', CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BLOG: Chivas USA's official blog, 'Dentro del Rebaño' (or 'Inside the Flock') will contain updated content on the team throughout the season. Check out chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!

CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE: APRIL 14-25*

Following is Chivas USA's latest schedule of travel, events, matches and practice sessions:

Tuesday, April 14: Training, 10:30 a.m. PT, Field 6

Wednesday, April 15: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6

Thursday, April 16: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6

Friday, April 17: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6

Saturday, April 18: Chivas USA vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (TV: LIVE on KAZA Azteca 54, Tape-Delayed on Fox Sports West at 10:00 p.m. PT; Radio: W Radio 690 AM; Pregame shows start @ 7:00 p.m. PT on KAZA Azteca 54 and W Radio, and at 9:30 on FSWest)
• Red-and-White to take on Seattle for the first time ever
• First 10,000 fans through the gates receive a special edition Chivas USA Cinch Backpack courtesy of Time Warner Cable

Sunday, April 19: Practice in the Community, 10:00 a.m. PT, Montebello High School (2100 W. Cleveland Ave., Montebello, CA, 90640).

Monday, April 20: Travel to Toronto

Tuesday, April 21: Training in Toronto, Time and Location TBA

Wednesday, April 22: Chivas USA @ Toronto FC, 4:30 p.m. PT (7:30 p.m. ET), BMO Field, Toronto, Ont., Canada (TV: LIVE on Direct Kick Package, Match Center on MLSnet.com; Radio: W Radio 690 AM; Pregame show starts @ 4:00 p.m. PT on W Radio)
• Red-and-White play second MLS match of 2009 outside of The Home Depot Center
• Chivas USA holds a 4-0-0 all-time record against Toronto FC

Thursday, April 23: Travel to Los Angeles

Friday, April 24: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6

Saturday, April 25: Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (TV: Tape-Delayed on Prime Ticket at 8:30 p.m. PT; Radio: W Radio 690 AM; Pregame show starts @ 7:00 p.m. PT on W Radio, and at 8:00 p.m. PT on Prime Ticket)
• Chivas USA to face FC Dallas for second and final time in 2009 after earning 2-0 win on the road on March 29
• First 10,000 fans through the gates receive a special edition Chivas USA team poster

*Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific, all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center.