The 2008 season has finally arrived for Chivas USA, who will open this Sunday, March 30, at 12:00 noon PT against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Tex. The match will be broadcast live nationally on TeleFutura in Spanish, and locally on FSN Prime Ticket in English, and will feature the 2008 debut of Chivas USA's blue jerseys, as FC Dallas will be wearing its red and white 'hoops'. Chivas USA is looking to overcome a tough record in Texas, where the team has traditionally struggled. The Red-and-White own an overall MLS record of 1-6-3 (W-L-T) in the Lone Star State against both FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, faltered in Texas during this preseason, with four one-goal losses in the Texas Pro Soccer Festival near San Antonio, and dropped an exhibition against Tigres UANL of Mexico in Donna, Tex., on October 9, 2005. Chivas USA's lone win in Texas was a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on September 13, 2006, with the goal coming from midfielder Juan Pablo Garcia.
HOME OPENER ON APRIL 5 AGAINST REAL SALT LAKE: Less than a week after opening the season in Texas, Chivas USA will return to The Home Depot Center for its 2008 Home Opener at 7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 5. The match will be played against fellow 2005 expansion team Real Salt Lake, against whom Chivas USA owns a 6-2-3 record (W-L-T) all-time, winning all three matches against RSL last season. The match could feature a pair of players who joined the Red-and-White from RSL in trades during the offseason, in forwards Atiba Harris and Alecko Eskandarian, both of whom scored in Chivas USA's last preseason match this past Saturday. Tickets, starting at just $10, are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or by visiting www.cdchivasusa.com, and fans buying two tickets or more will receive a free Chivas USA scarf for each ticket.
FC DALLAS UPDATE: Chivas USA squares off this Sunday against FC Dallas, against whom the Los Angeles team has a 3-5-3 all-time record (W-L-T). Last season, Chivas USA split the season series, with each team earning a 2-0 win in their home stadium in the first half of the season before playing to a 0-0 draw in Frisco, Tex., on October 11. Coming off a season in which Dallas finished third in the Western Conference behind Chivas USA and Houston, the 'Hoops' have added Mexican defender Duilio Davino in the offseason, as well as young Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha to its squad. Like Chivas USA, Dallas won its final preseason game, beating Brazilian side Clube Atletico Paranaense for the second time in the month of March, winning 2-1 in Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 29 IN GRANADA HILLS: 'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this coming Saturday, March 29, with a clinic at Granada Hills Recreation Center at 16730 Chatsworth Street in Granada Hills. 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 Branford Park at 13310 Branford Street in Arleta on March 15. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
MIDFIELDER KRAIG CHILES SIGNED TO DEVELOPMENTAL CONTRACT: Chivas USA announced today the signing of former San Diego State standout Kraig Chiles to a developmental contract. The midfielder was selected with Chivas USA's first selection (9th overall) in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, after playing four years at San Diego State. Chiles was a co-captain for the Aztecs in his senior year, a season in which he was named to the All-Pac-10 first team after starting all of the team's 19 games, notching 8 goals and adding four assists. He was also named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on two occasions, was honored as the College Soccer News National Player of the Week on Oct. 15. A 2003 graduate of Poway High School near San Diego, Chiles earned a number of league and state accolades, and is his high school's all time leading-scorer.
KRAIG CHILES
Nombre/Name: Kraig Chiles
Número/Number: 37
Posición/Position: Mediocampista/Midfielder
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1984-05-14, Torrance, California, USA
Residencia/Hometown: San Diego, California, USA
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 84 kg / 185 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.80 m / 5'11"
Universidad/University: San Diego State
Adquisición/Acquired: Selecionado por Chivas USA en la primera ronda (la novena selección en total) del 2008 Draft Complemetario / Selected by Chivas USA in the first round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft (9th overall).
NEWCOMERS HELP RED-AND-WHITE DEFEAT REAL ESPAÑA OF HONDURAS: Chivas USA ended preseason on a high note, taking a 4-1 victory over Real España of the Honduran First Division in a match played in Fullerton, Calif., on Saturday night. The Red-and-White got goals from three newcomers, as well as fourth-year Chivas USA midfielder Francisco Mendoza, in the win. Atiba Harris, acquired in an offseason trade, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, heading home a pinpoint Ante Razov cross. Chivas USA's only selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, Keith Savage, scored the team's second goal when he dribbled through the España defense before hammering home a near-post shot in minute 68. Mendoza scored in the 72nd minute with an assist to Harris, and veteran Alecko Eskandarian, who joined the team in the offseason from Real Salt Lake, closed the scoring for Chivas USA in the 78th minute on an assist from rookie Justin Braun. España scored on a penalty in the 89th to bring the final score to 4-1. Chivas USA finishes the preseason with a record of nine wins, six losses, and no ties, and finishes with four straight wins in which the team outscored opponents by a 15-2 margin:
CHIVAS USA 2008 :: SCHEDULE OF PRESEASON GAMES*
Sat Feb 9 vs. UCLA W, 2-0 (Braun, Razov)
Tue Feb 12 vs. New York Red Bulls W, 1-0 (Razov)
Sat Feb 16 vs. Japanese U-23 National Team L, 4-0
Mon Feb 18 vs. D.C. United W, 1-0 (Salazar)
Sat Feb 23 vs. Columbus @ Santa Clarita, CA L, 2-1 (Harris)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Riverside W, 1-0 (Suárez)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Irvine W, 2-1 (Galindo, Chiles)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Schertz, TX L, 2-1 (Nagamura)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Cibolo, TX L, 2-1 (Flores)
Fri Mar 7 vs. Houston Dynamo @ Cibolo, TX L, 1-0
Sun Mar 9 vs. Toronto FC @ Cibolo, TX L, 3-2 (Own goal, Razov)
Sat Mar 15 vs. San Diego State W, 2-1 (Chijindu, Solórzano)
Sun Mar 16 vs. Fresno Fuego @ Fresno, CA W, 4-0 (Marsch, Harris, Savage, Thomas)
Wed Mar 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton W, 5-0 (Flores 2, O.G., Salazar 2)
Sat Mar 22 vs. Real España @ Fullerton W, 4-1 (Harris, Savage, Mendoza, Eskandarian)
SUN MAR 30 @ FC Dallas (OPENING DAY) 12:00 p.m.
SAT APR 5 vs. Real Salt Lake (HOME OPENER) 7:30 p.m.
* Subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, all times Pacific and all games at The Home Depot Center. For the latest information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BILINGUAL BLOG UP AND RUNNING: Chivas USA has launched its official bilingual team blog, 'Dentro del Rebaño' ('Inside the Flock'). A reference to Chivas' nickname, 'Dentro del Rebaño' will provide insider access to Chivas USA and its players, and is designed to be a source of the latest information for both fans and media. Be sure to check out 'Dentro del Rebaño' at chivas-usa.blogspot.com today!
CHIVAS USA TO MAKE INTERNATIONAL DEBUT IN 2008 SUPERLIGA: Chivas USA is one of four MLS teams participating in the 2008 SuperLiga, the second annual tournament between MLS teams and Mexican First Division squads, and could face sister team Chivas Guadalajara in a tournament semifinal or final. The Red-and-White are in a group alongside the New England Revolution (MLS), Pachuca (Mex.) and Santos Laguna (Mex.), while the other group consists of MLS teams D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo, and Mexican teams Chivas Guadalajara and Atlante. All of Chivas USA's group stage games will take place in Los Angeles, with the team facing Pachuca on July 13 at 7:00 p.m. PT, and Santos on July 16, also at 7:00 p.m. PT, both in The Home Depot Center, before playing New England on July 20 in Los Angeles at a stadium to be determined. The tournament runs from July 12-August 5, and the winning team earns a $1 million prize.
KLJESTAN AND U.S. U-23 EARN SPOT IN BEIJING OLYMPICS: With a win over Canada this past Thursday in Nashville, Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan and the rest of the United States U-23 National Team earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The U.S. won 3-0 over its northern neighbors, and Kljestan scored the team's third goal. Kljestan, who was tied for second in MLS last season with 13 assists, was a critical part of the U.S. team throughout qualifying, playing in all three of the team's group stage games, scoring in the match that sent the team to China, and captaining the team and playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 overtime loss to Honduras in the qualifying final yesterday. Kljestan will return to training with Chivas USA on Tuesday.
INJURY UPDATE: Several Chivas USA players have returned to the field after injuries, and were even major factors in Saturday night's 4-1 win over Real España in Fullerton. Francisco Mendoza made his first appearance in a preseason match after suffering a groin strain in preseason, and scored the Red-and-White's third goal in the game. Alecko Eskandarian also recovered from a groin strain to return to the field for the Red-and-White, while Brad Guzan played 90 minutes in his first match action since spraining his MCL on March 3. Alex Zotinca is out for at least six months after undergoing surgery on the ACL in his right knee on Monday. Maykel Galindo and Raphaël Wicky were both held out of this past weekend's match but are expected to be ready for Sunday's season opener.
SUEÑO MLS WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SUNDAY BEFORE CHIVAS USA SEASON OPENER: One of five finalists will be named the winner of Los Angeles' Sueño MLS competition this Sunday before Chivas USA's game against FC Dallas, live on Univision's 'República Deportiva.' Sueño MLS, a nationally-televised search to discover America's best undiscovered young soccer players, has one goalkeeper, three midfielders and one forward, ranging in age from 15 to 17, in the middle of a two-week training stint with Chivas USA's U-16 Team, which is coached by former Chivas de Guadalajara players Samuel Rivas and Miguel Ramos. The five finalists played in a match against Chivas USA's U-15 Team on Friday night, earning a 3-1 win, with Sueño hopefuls Servando Perez and Briant Reyes each scoring a goal for the U-16s. The winner of the Los Angeles Sueño MLS, along with another winner from a concurrent competition in Dallas, will be announced live on Sunday, March 30, hours before Chivas USA and FC Dallas open the season at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. For more information on Sueño MLS please visit www.SuenoMLS.com.
Sueño MLS 2008: Roster of Finalists (5) for Chivas USA (in alphabetical order by last name):
Name Age Position Hometown
Alonso Lara 16 GK Livingston, CA Michoacán, Mex. native admires FCB GK Víctor Valdés
Juan Moreno 17 MF Compton, CA Mexican-American admires Mexico's Rafa Márquez
Servando Perez 17 MF Guadalupe, CA Midfielder admires Chivas' Omar Bravo
Briant Reyes 16 MF Downey, CA Salvadoran-American MF admires Brazil's Robinho
Daniel Sánchez 15 FW Las Vegas, NV Young NV Devils standout made 5-hr trek from Las Vegas
JUST $50 GETS YOU CHIVAS USA'S TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2008! 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 Plan, Southern California's best sports entertainment value, with packages starting at just $50. The five matches included in the set are the opening match of the season on April 5 against Real Salt Lake, June 19 against the Chicago Fire, July 5 versus the San Jose Earthquakes, August 14 against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the closing game of the season, which doubles as Fan Appreciation night, October 25 against the Houston Dynamo. For more information please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
