CHIVAS USA TRAVELS TO UTAH FOR VITAL 'SIX-POINTER' VS. REAL SALT LAKE:
Back home from its two-game East Coast swing, Chivas USA hits the road for its third straight away match as it travels to Utah to face Real Salt Lake this Saturday, Sept. 20 at 6:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. MT) at Rice-Eccles Stadium. With just six games left in the MLS regular season, vital playoff positioning is on the line, as Chivas USA (8-10-6, 30 pts) trails Real Salt Lake (8-9-7, 31 pts) by just a point in the tightly-packed Western Conference standings - where only five points separate second-place RSL from the last-place LA Galaxy (26 pts). Not only will Saturday's game mark the return to Salt Lake City of Chivas USA's three ex-RSL'ers (FW Atiba Harris, FW Alecko Eskandarian and DF Carey Talley); it will also be RSL's final game at Rice-Eccles before moving into their new Real Salt Lake Stadium digs on Oct. 9. This Saturday's match will be broadcast LIVE on KAZA Azteca 54 and the MLS Direct Kick Package; FSN West will air the game on tape-delay staring at 8:00 p.m. PT.
RED-AND-WHITE RETURN HOME SEPT. 27 TO HOST K.C. WIZARDS ON 'MANHATTAN BEACH NIGHT': Following Saturday's game in Utah, Chivas USA returns to hosts the Kansas City Wizards - the team that eliminated the Red-and-White from last year's MLS Cup Playoffs. Not only can families take advantage of Chivas USA's Family Pack, which gets you 4 tickets, 4 hats and 4 hotdogs starting at just $58, Chivas USA will also be celebrating Manhattan Beach Night, where city leaders will be greeted by Manhattan Beach resident Jesse Marsch and a special 'Parade of Champions' will give soccer-loving kids from Manhattan Beach the opportunity to walk around the field prior to the game. For more information on these activities or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
CHIVAS USA BOLSTERS MIDFIELD WITH PAIR OF DEADLINE-DAY SIGNINGS: In a series of deadline-day moves, Chivas USA strengthened its squad on Monday with the addition of two versatile midfielders: nine-year MLS veteran Sasha Victorine, acquired via trade from the Kansas City Wizards, and Brazilian attacking midfielder Dejair (pronounced 'dey-zha-EER'), signed as an international player. Victorine arrived in Southern California on Tuesday and will be available for selection for Saturday's match at Real Salt Lake, while Dejair will be eligible debut for Chivas USA, pending finalization of his U.S. P-1 work visa and receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. This past Monday, Sept. 15 was Major League Soccer's Roster Freeze Date, the last day teams can add players to their rosters for the 2008 season.
INJURY UPDATE: EBERT, VAUGHN, WICKY ADDED TO SEASON-ENDING LIST: Chivas USA on Monday also placed MF Raphaël Wicky and DF's Lawson Vaughn and Eric Ebert on the club's Season-Ending Injury List. Wicky, acquired by Chivas USA in the offseason, played 5 games in 2008 (starting 1), logging 138 minutes and 1 assist, before undergoing reconstructive ankle surgery on July 16. Vaughn played 7 games for the Red-and-White (starting 7) in this, his third year as a professional, despite suffering a left ankle injury that would sideline him for much of the campaign; he is expected to undergo surgery in the coming weeks. Ebert played 7 games for the Red-and-White (starting 2), logging 256 minutes, before suffering a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee during Chivas USA's Sept. 6 game at Toronto FC. On the positive side, Chivas USA DF Alex Zotinca is making progress from R knee surgery underwent during preseason and is listed as 'questionable' for Saturday's game, while MF Jesse Marsch finally had his jaw unwired after suffering a blow to the face from the LA Galaxy's Sean Franklin on 9/14 and is listed as 'probable' for Saturday. For a full copy of the latest Chivas USA Injury Report, please visit MLSnet.com.
CHIVAS USA U-18'S, U-16'S MAKE STRONG SHOWINGS VS. U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS: The Chivas USA Under-18 and Under-16 teams kicked off their respective 2008-09 seasons this past Saturday with a pair of friendlies against their counterparts from the United States Youth National Teams at The Home Depot Center. Led by a goal from returning MF Jesse Paredes and a two-goal performance by FW Andy Lopez, the Chivas USA U-18's, coached by Sacha van der Most, earned a 3-3 draw against their U.S. opponents, while the U-16's, coached by Samuel Rivas, put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell by a scoreline of 2-0. Both U.S. Youth National Teams were comprised of players currently in residency under U.S. U-17 head coach and former Colombia World Cup star Wilmer Cabrera. Chivas USA's Youth Teams now turn to their 2008-09 Development Academy openers as they face San Diego Surf on Sept. 28. Full rosters for Chivas USA's U-18 and U-18 Teams can be found in the latest Chivas USA Youth Soccer Update at www.cdchivasusa.com.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT WESTCHESTER RECREATION CENTER NEAR LAX: 'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this Saturday, September 20, with a clinic at Westchester Recreation Center, located at 7000 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045. A series of four, 90-minute clinics kicks off at 9:00 a.m., followed by clinics at 10:45 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. 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 Studio City Recreation Center at 12621 Rye Street in Studio City on Sept. 6. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
LISTEN TO 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA' EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT ON W RADIO 690 AM: Join Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez this Thursday for a special evening of Chivas USA soccer on W Radio 690 AM, as 'Pasión Chivas USA' returns to its regularly scheduled time at 6:00 p.m. PT. One of the most powerful AM radio signals in all of the western United States, XEWW 690 AM can be heard from Tijuana in the south, all the way to the San Joaquin Valley in the north. Don't miss the chance to learn more about your Chivas USA - as well as the chance to win tickets to the Red-and-White's next home game, Saturday, Sept. 27 against the Kansas City Wizards at The Home Depot Center.
WATCH 'SOMOS CHIVAS USA' ON KAZA AZTECA 54 THIS SATURDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PT: 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 on Saturday, September 20, at 5:00 p.m. PT, just before the pregame show for Chivas USA's 6:00 p.m. PT game at Real Salt Lake. Tune in this Saturday for your 'Somos Chivas USA!'
EXCLUSIVE 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. Check http://chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!
PICK UP CLAUDIO'S NEW BOOK AND CELEBRATE 'THE YEAR OF THE EMPEROR': After more than 20 years as a professional soccer player, Chivas USA's legendary Mexican defender Claudio Suárez has released his new biography, 'The Story of a Warrior', which contains photographs and stories gathered over the course of two years by both Claudio Suárez and renowned Mexican author Enrique León Candiani. The exclusive biography faithfully tells the story of Suárez, who was born into a working-class family of nine children outside of Mexico City and would go on to win championships in the Mexican First Division, participate in two World Cups, and make more international appearances than any other player in Mexican National Team history. Join Chivas USA in celebrating the 'Year of the Emperor' and pick up your copy today - 'The Story of a Warrior' is available online at Target.com, Soccer.com/Claudio, and Amazon.com, as well as in Borders and Sanborns bookstores across the United States and Mexico. The Spanish version of the biography is already out, and an English version will be printed shortly.
CHIVAS USA BIRTHDAYS: A pair of Chivas USA midfielders, Sacha Kljestan and Jorge Flores, celebrate birthdays in September. Kljestan turned 23 on Sept. 9, while 'Sueño' Flores celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday, Sept. 16.
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER 18-27
Thursday, September 18:
Chivas USA Training - Open to media after 11:00 a.m. PT - Field 4
Friday, September 19:
Chivas USA Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 4; Travel to Salt Lake City
Saturday, September 20:
Chivas USA @ Real Salt Lake, 6:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. MT), Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah; (TV: LIVE, 6:00 p.m. PT on KAZA Azteca 54, Tape-Delayed, 8:00 p.m. PT on FSN West; Radio: LIVE on W Radio 690 AM. Pregame shows: KAZA & W Radio, 5:30 p.m. PT; FSN, 7:30 p.m.)
Sunday, September 21:
Chivas USA Reserves @ Real Salt Lake Reserves; Travel to Los Angles
Monday, September 22 - Friday, September 26:
TBA
Saturday, September 27:
Chivas USA vs. Kansas City Wizards, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (Tickets: 1-877-CHIVAS-1, Ticketmaster, www.cdchivasusa.com)
Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific, all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center, with media access provided after games and training sessions. For latest information, or if you plan on attending a training session, please contact Chivas USA's Communications Department.
