Just a few hours after being picked by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2010 Expansion Draft, Chivas USA striker Alan Gordon was returned to the Goats in a trade.
Gordon is joined by Philadelphia Union forward Alejandro Moreno, who was also picked by the Whitecaps in Wednesday’s draft.
In exchange, Chivas USA gave away allocation money and an international spot.
“We’re very happy we get to keep Alan Gordon at Chivas USA, and we’re also excited to add Alejandro Moreno to our squad,” Chivas USA Vice President of Soccer Operations Stephen Hamilton said in a statement. “We had the opportunity to add a pair of experienced and proven forwards, who will provide us with strength and depth up front.”
Gordon only joined Chivas in August after spending more than six seasons with intracity rivals, the LA Galaxy. He scored a goal and added three assists in nine appearances for the club.
There was speculation that Gordon would be picked by Vancouver’s fellow expansion club, the Portland Timbers. Gordon spent the 2004 season on loan with the club, then in the 2nd-division, and he finished tied for the league scoring lead.
[inline_node:316873]Moreno, who was also selected in the 2009 Expansion Draft by Philadelphia, has played for five other MLS teams since joining the league in 2002. The Venezuelan international has scored 45 goals and posted 35 assists over his nine seasons.
“Hopefully I can add something to Chivas USA,” Moreno said in a statemet. “It’s important to me that Chivas USA has taken this opportunity to have me as a part of their team and I’m excited by the opportunity to add a new chapter to my career. Also I hope I can be a part of the turnaround of this organization as we look to be one of the better teams in the Western Conference and a more competitive team throughout MLS.”
The first club in Moreno’s career was the Galaxy, so joining Chivas marks his return to Southern California.
“I’m happy that the weather in California will allow me to get my shorts back out,” Moreno said.
But it will require more than shorts to turn Chivas around. The side finished last in the Western Conference in 2010, and coach Martin Vasquez was fired at the end of the season.
“There’s a lot of anticipation in terms of what’s going to happen with this team,” Moreno said. “Obviously there’s a coaching decision that needs to be made and I know that there are some other personnel changes that are occurring within the team. I’m anxious to see what kind of team we’ll have on the field and what team we can put together to work towards becoming the side that we all want Chivas USA to be.”
