OUT: DF Bobby Burling (sports hernia surgery); DF Ante Jazic (concussion); GK Dan Kennedy (R knee sprain); FW Ante Razov (R ankle surgery); DF Claudio Suárez (L calf strain); DF Lawson Vaughn (L ankle surgery); MF Sasha Victorine (L knee surgery); DOUBTFUL: FW Justin Braun (R knee sprain); FW Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery) ... SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC - OUT: FW Jarrod Smith (quadriceps strain); DOUBTFUL: DF Taylor Graham (left sesamoid fracture); MF Peter Vagenas (knee surgery); PROBABLE: GK Chris Eylander (right knee PCL sprain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: CHV: Paulo Nagamura (through April 19) ... SEA: Kasey Keller (through April 19)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (15 meetings):
First meeting.
RETURN MATCHES:
6/6: Seattle Sounders FC at Chivas USA, 7:30 p.m. PT; 9/19: Chivas USA at Seattle Sounders FC, 12 noon PT
• Coaches record: Preki vs. SEA: first game ... Sigi Schmid v CHV: P6 W1 L3 D2
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA remain as the only unbeaten in the Western Conference despite dropping points for the first time in a scoreless draw with LA Galaxy in the first SuperClásico of the season at The Home Depot Center last Saturday. Chivas USA have 10 points from four matches, a point ahead of Seattle Sounders FC in the West.
LAST MATCH
• Chivas USA came into the first meeting between the in-stadium rivals with three wins in three tries on the year, while the Galaxy were looking for their first win after a draw and a loss.
• A fractious contest took a turn just before halftime when Chivas midfielder Paulo Nagamura was sent off with a second yellow card, this one for a foul on Landon Donovan in the center circle.
• But the game lurched back in the other direction midway through the second half. The Galaxy's Alan Gordon saw two yellow cards in the space of three minutes and left both teams with 10 players a side.
• Then in the 79th minute, Alecko Eskandarian appeared to have nicked the ball and gotten free for a breakaway. But Gregg Berhalter pulled him down before he could escape, and he too was shown red by referee Tim Weyland.
• Chivas USA head coach Preki made one change to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 the previous Sunday. Mariano Trujillo came back in at right back with Carey Talley moving inside as Jim Curtin went to the substitutes' bench.
• Here's Preki's team (4-4-2): Zach Thornton - Mariano Trujillo (Chukwudi Chijindu 87), Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein - Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Gerson Mayen (Bojan Stepanovic 46) - Atiba Harris, Eduardo Lillingston (Alecko Eskandarian 46). Substitutes Not Used: Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores, Michael Lahoud, Lance Parker
• I thought we were solid, and obviously at the end of the game, when now we have a man up, it looked like a [hockey] power play," Preki said. "We had three or four good chances to score and we didn't, so we've got to give them credit. They fought hard too, their goalkeeper played extremely well, and we'll take the point on the road."
TEAM NEWS
• Just as in the 2008 season, Chivas have been racked by injuries in the early going, but this year they've been able to get results. While they lost their perfect record with the draw, they still remain the only undefeated team in the Western Conference.
• "I think there's a good energy to our team right now," said Marsch. "I'm happy that a lot of guys are playing and showing well for themselves. This team never gets too high or too low. We've got a game next week and we just need to keep going."
• Chivas was also able to keep a clean sheet for the second time this season. They have not allowed more than one goal in a single game, and their two goals allowed are tied for second in MLS with New England, one more than Seattle Sounders FC.
• "It's a group effort," said Preki. "When everybody's committed and playing good defense, you're not going to give too many things away. When you do give a moment or two away, you always know that you have a good goalkeeper in the goal that can make a good save or two. Zach has made saves in almost all of our games to keep us in the game."
• Mariano Trujillo has become the regular at right back, with Carey Talley sliding inside to central defense. "It's a role that I'm familiar with," said Talley of the shift. "Preki knew that I could play there and with the injury issues that we've had, he decided to plug me in. Right now, it's looking pretty good." Said Trujillo: "I played right back sometimes in Mexico, so it's not a new thing for me. I think the most important thing is that my teammates are making me feel comfortable in that spot."
• Alecko Eskandarian was able to come off the bench and see action for the first time this season, replacing Eduardo Lillingston at halftime. There are still as many as seven regulars who are out injured, yet Chivas has maintained the top spot in the division. In a similar situation last year, Chivas won just one of their opening seven games.
• "It's nice to get off to a good start, but it's a long MLS season," said Eskandarian. "At this point, we just want to try to build as much of a gap as we can between the teams behind us."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Seattle Sounders FC were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten - and unscored upon - falling 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday night at Qwest Field. Sounders FC have nine points from four matches this season, now a point behind Chivas USA in second place in the West, but still with the second-best overall record in MLS.
LAST MATCH
• Sounders FC were back home in front of a sellout crowd for the third time this season, having outscored their opponents 7-0 in winning the first three games in club history. The Wizards were coming off their first victory of the season after two losses.
• The game turned in the 29th minute. Herculez Gomez was freed behind the Sounders FC on a long ball and Keller came racing out of the area. He parried Gomez's shot with his hands and referee Abbey Okulaja sent off the long-time U.S. international with a straight red.
• Forced to call upon league pool backup goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, Sounders FC nearly saw out the match. But 10 minutes from time, Arnaud let fly with a blast from well outside the box that Dragavon got his hands to but could not keep out, the first goal ever allowed by Seattle, after 350 minutes.
• Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid made one change to the team that defeated Toronto FC 2-0 the weekend before. Fredy Montero returned to the lineup in attack, with Freddie Ljungberg dropping into a midfield role and Steve Zakuani taking a place on the substitutes' bench.
• Here's Schmid's team (4-3-1-2): Kasey Keller - James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyrone Marshall, Zach Scott (Sanna Nyassi 86) - Sebastien Le Toux (Ben Dragavon 31), Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans - Freddie Ljungberg (Steve Zakuani 81) - Fredy Montero, Nate Jaqua. Substitutes Not Used: Patrick Ianni, Roger Levesque, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl
• "When you play a man down for that amount of time it's difficult. When we got organized I thought we played well in second half, even though we were a man down," Schmid said. "I'm really proud of how we played and how we managed the game in the second half."
TEAM NEWS
• While Sounders FC saw their perfect start to their history come to an end, there was still a positive to be taken for a team playing just its fourth game ever.
• "I'm most proud we played a man down for 60 to 65 minutes and Kansas City was celebrating quite extensively at the end of the game," Schmid said. "That shows how much respect we've already garnered in this league. If they're playing a man up and win a squeaker and they're happy, that's good for us."
• The goal allowed by Sounders FC was their first in 350 minutes, the second longest shutout streak to start a season in MLS history, surpassing the 344 minutes set by the Dallas Burn in 1999, but still 71 minutes short of the New York Red Bulls' 2007 record.
• The biggest signing early on for Sounders FC, goalkeeper Kasey Keller will now be suspended for the Chivas match - an experience he says is new to him.
• "That's going to be a monster. I never miss games," Keller said. "Having to watch the second half from (the locker room) was really tough but having to know that I can't play the next game is eating me alive as well."
• Keller's individual shutout streak of 299 minutes will remain intact should he start the next game that he's available. He is 76 minutes short of the record to begin the season set by former Red Bulls goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus (375) in 2007.
• The question is who will replace him on Saturday. Ben Dragavon made his professional debut against the Wizards and played the final hour, but Chris Eylander, injured since the start of the season, played 45 minutes in a reserve match against the USL1 Portland Timbers at midweek.
• Eylander said he is ready to his league debut, but said Schmid: "Even though Chris said he was ready at the end of last week, we still felt there were things he couldn't do. The first goal today was a shot where he makes a good save but he didn't get back up to his feet. That's one of the problems he's had with his injury. He (can make) the initial save but he still doesn't have the strength back to react to the second shot."
• In addition, injured midfielder Peter Vagenas and defender Taylor Graham saw action in the match, showing they are getting closer to returning.
• In the attack, Schmid started the match as many expected Sounders FC would line up this season. Fredy Montero returned to action to partner Nate Jaqua at striker, while Freddie Ljungberg was playing the attacking central midfield role with Brad Evans moved to the left in place of rookie Steve Zakuani.
• "It was OK. There are still kinks we need to work out. Brad Evans was too wide at times. He had a great chance in the second where (Kevin) Hartman came up with a world-class save. There's times when Brad needs to go inside more. As they play together they'll improve. We can't forget about stretching the defense," Schmid said.
