Chivas USA earned a 1-0 victory over Mexican Primera 'A' club Irapuato on Tuesday morning, closing the team's 10-day preseason trip to Guadalajara. Michael Lahoud, the Red-and-White's first pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, scored the only goal of the match, his first tally with his new club. The team now returns to Los Angeles and will resume training at The Home Depot Center on Thursday morning.
The match, which took place on Field 2 at Chivas de Guadalajara's Verde Valle training complex, was scoreless until the 65th minute, when Lahoud took a long pass from defender Ante Jazic off his chest and volleyed home a shot from 20 yards. Trialists Román Cuello, Eduardo Lillingston, and Diego Scotti all started the match for the Red-and-White.
Chivas USA returns to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, and will have its next practice on Thursday morning at The Home Depot Center. The Red-and-White will play a pair of scrimmages on Saturday, also in Carson, first facing Hammarby IF of Sweden at 11:00 a.m. and then UCLA at 1:00 p.m.
Chivas USA kicks off its fifth campaign in Major League Soccer when its hosts the Colorado Rapids in an Opening Day match on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For more information on Chivas USA season tickets, as well as the unbeatable All-Star five-game pack (starting at just $50), please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
Unofficial match statistics from today's match:
Chivas USA 1-0 Irapuato
Verde Valle, Cancha #2, Zapopan, Jal.
Goals:
CHV - Lahoud (Jazic) 65
CHV Lineup: Zach Thornton, Carey Talley (Dan Gargan '57), Shavar Thomas (Javier Ledesma 57') , Jim Curtin, Ante Jazic, Sacha Kljestan (Jesse Marsch 5') (Gilson Tussi 57'), Michael Lahoud, Diego Scotti, Jonathan Bornstein (Jamie Franks 46'), Eduardo Lillingston (Justin Braun 57') , Román Cuello (Alecko Eskandarian, 52')
IRP Lineup:
Manuel Corona (Edgar Reina 46'), Axel Zumaya, David Hernández, Esequiel Britiz, Jair Cortes Israel Moreno (Juan Garza 46'), Horacio Franco, Andrés Ugalde, Noel Castillo, Adalberto Robles (Arturo Chávez 46'), Sergio 'Alvin' Pérez (Israel Valadez 46')
