CARSON, Calif. --
The Chivas USA Under-18 Team travels today to Guadalajara, Mexico, to participate in the Copa Internacional Chivas Comex 2009 (International Chivas Comex Cup), one of the most prestigious youth soccer tournaments in the Western Hemisphere, to be held in Guadalajara from Jan. 24 to Feb. 1. Chivas USA will square off against a group of difficult opponents, including youth teams from Mexican First Division clubs Toluca (Jan. 24), Santos (Jan. 25) and Morelia (Jan. 27), as well as the U-18 National Teams from Japan (Jan. 26) and Brazil (Jan. 29).
The group of seventeen players, led by Head Coach Sacha van der Most, travel to Guadalajara today before playing five group games in the first six days of the tournament, from Jan. 24-29. The quarterfinals then begin on Jan. 30, with the semifinals and finals to follow on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, before the team returns to Southern California. A complete schedule of the team's matches is listed below.
At total of five players on the Chivas USA roster also participated in last year's 'Copa Chivas': Omar Becerra, Clayton Eaton, Leopoldo Morales, Jesse Paredes, and Cesar Zamora.
The Copa Chivas is an international tournament that features some of the strongest youth teams from around the world. This year's edition brings 24 teams from 13 different countries, and includes both youth national teams (Brazil, Japan) and some of the most storied clubs in South America and Europe, including Spain's Real Madrid, River Plate from Argentina, and Mexican powerhouses Chivas Guadalajara and América.
For full information on the Copa Chivas, including groups, schedules, and results, visit the tournament's official website at www.copachivas.com. Information on the Chivas USA U-18 Team's experience in Mexico, including updated results, will be available at Chivas USA's official blog, Dentro del Rebaño ("Inside the Flock"), at chivas-usa.blogspot.com.
CHIVAS USA UNDER-18 TEAM SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Jan. 24 Chivas USA vs. Toluca (MEX) 10:00 a.m. CT
Sunday, Jan. 25 Chivas USA vs. Santos (MEX) 11:00 p.m. CT
Monday, Jan. 26 Chivas USA vs. Japanese National Team 4:00 p.m. CT
Tuesday, Jan. 27 Morelia (MEX) vs. Chivas USA 11:00 a.m. CT
Thursday, Jan. 29 Brazilian National Team vs. Chivas USA 11:00 a.m. CT
Friday, Jan. 30 Quarterfinals TBA
Saturday, Jan.31 Semifinal TBA
Monday, Feb 1 Final/Third Place Game TBA
CHIVAS USA UNDER-18 ROSTER FOR COPA CHIVAS:
Goalkeepers (2):
Jose Godoy, Kamran Khyltash
Defenders (6):
Jose Anguino ,Omar Becerra, Jaime Frias, Angel Rodríguez, Steve Torres, Edwin Velasquez
Midfielders (5):
Daniel Castro, Clayton Eaton, Jesse Paredes, Daniel Sanchez, Cesar Zamora
Forwards (4):
Orr Baroush, Bryan de la Fuente, Andy Lopez, Leopoldo Morales
Staff:
Sacha van der Most (Head Coach)
Refugio Mancilla (Assistant Coach)
Carl Edwards (Assistant Coach)
After qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row in 2008, Chivas USA will open preseason training at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday, Jan. 28 ahead of the 2009 MLS season. Media interested in covering preseason training and friendlies should contact Chivas USA Communications. Chivas USA opens its fifth campaign in Major League Soccer on March 21, 2009, when it hosts the Colorado Rapids at The Home Depot Center. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
