CHIVAS USA HOSTS THE NEW YORK RED BULLS ON DISNEYLAND RESORT NIGHT THIS SATURDAY:
After capturing a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire last Thursday, Chivas USA returns to action this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center in Carson when the team hosts the New York Red Bulls. The match will be broadcast live on FSN Prime Ticket, KAZA Azteca 54, and HDNet, as well as W Radio 690 AM. The Red-and-White currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5-6-2 (W-L-T) record, just four points behind the first place Los Angeles Galaxy, while the Red Bulls are in sixth place in the East with a record of 5-4-4. Saturday's game will be presented by The Disneyland Resort, who will give away Toy Story Mania car flags to fans, and run a special halftime moment featuring some of Disney's favorite characters. Mickey Mouse himself will present at the coin toss prior to the match, and recording artist Yesenia Flores will sing 'Mexico Lindo y Querido' before the game. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
RED BULLS TO FACE BOTH CHIVAS DE GUADALAJARA AND CHIVAS USA IN ONE WEEK:
The Red Bulls will take on Chivas in a pair of matches this week, as New York will first play Chivas de Guadalajara in Arizona before arriving in Los Angeles. The friendly match between Guadalajara and New York will take place at the University of Phoenix Stadium at 8:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, and will be broadcast live on TeleFutura. The Red Bulls arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday and will train on Friday at The Home Depot Center in advance of Saturday night's game. With the match in Arizona, Chivas de Guadalajara is starting its preseason preparations for the Apertura 2008 season, which will begin on July 26 at Cruz Azul.
CHIVAS USA EARNS 2-0 WIN OVER CHICAGO FIRE IN FRONT OF RAUCOUS CROWD:
The Red-and-White earned a key 2-0 victory last Thursday over the Chicago Fire in front of 24,143 passionate fans at The Home Depot Center, jumping up in the Western Conference standings and ending a two-match losing streak. Chivas USA opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Ante Razov's pass found Sacha Kljestan in the box, who scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Razov earned his second assist of the game and the season just six minutes later, when Justin Braun latched onto a Razov cross for the rookie's second goal of the year. Paulo Nagamura received his second yellow card of the match just before halftime and the 10-man Chivas USA team held firm, as Brad Guzan earned his third shutout of 2008.
CHIVAS USA IN RUN OF EIGHT MATCHES AT HOME:
Chivas USA is two matches into a run of eight straight games in the Los Angeles area, starting with four straight MLS games at home. The team began the homestand on June 14 against Real Salt Lake, after which the team beat the Chicago Fire on June 19. Next up is a rematch with the Red Bulls on June 28, followed by a game against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 5. The Red-and-White then play 'at' the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on July 10. Next comes the Red-and-White's three SuperLiga group matches, starting with CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Pachuca, on July 13, then recently crowned Mexican First Division champ Santos on July 16, and closing with the New England Revolution on July 20. The Pachuca and Santos matches will be played at The Home Depot Center, while Chivas USA will face the Revolution at Titan Stadium in Fullerton. The homestand ends when the team travels to Chicago to face the Fire on August 2. For more information on any of the matches, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
RED BULLS UPDATE:
The New York Red Bulls have two points more than Chivas USA on the season, but sit in sixth place, near the bottom of a strong Eastern Conference. The two teams faced off at the beginning of the month, with the Red-and-White falling 1-0 to the Red Bulls in New Jersey on June 5. Since that match, the Red Bulls have played three matches, losing 4-1 to D.C. United before tying the New England Revolution 1-1, and most recently, beating FC Dallas 1-0 this past Saturday. New York has struggled offensively in 2008, scoring just 14 goals in 13 games, with three coming from both midfielder Dave van den Bergh and forward Jozy Altidore, who recently transferred to Villarreal of Spain. Goalkeeper Jon Conway has played every minute of the season in net for the Red Bulls, posting a 1.31 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY AND CONNECTIONS:
The Red-and-White dropped the first meeting of the season between the two teams, so Chivas USA's record against the Red Bulls now sits at 2-3-2 (W-L-T) all-time. Ante Razov has been the catalyst against his old organization (Razov played in New York in 2005), with a total of four goals and four assists in the four games he has played against New York, while former Chivas USA striker Francisco Palencia also has four goals against the team. Former New York midfielders Amado Guevara (four goals) and Youri Djorkaeff (three assists) led the charge in matches past against Chivas USA. All-time, Chivas USA has scored 12 goals and given up 11 against New York, but won both matches against the Red Bulls in 2007, earning a 2-0 win on the road on July 26 and then 3-0 victory at home on September 9.
CHIVAS USA TO LEARN OPEN CUP OPPONENT ON TUESDAY NIGHT:
In a match to be broadcast on the internet at USL Live tomorrow night, June 24, the Seattle Sounders will play Hollywood United in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup second round match in Seattle. The winner of the game will face Chivas USA on July 1 in the third round of the competition. If Seattle wins, Chivas USA will travel to face the team in the U.S. Open Cup for the second consecutive season, while if Hollywood wins, the Red-and-White will host the team in the third-round match. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
BRAD GUZAN EARNS SECOND STRAIGHT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING SHUTOUT:
Chivas USA Original Brad Guzan was called upon by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley on Sunday for the United States' 1-0 second-leg victory over Barbados in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Guzan played both legs of the home-and-home series, starting in Barbados this past weekend and at The Home Depot Center a week earlier as the U.S. earned a 9-0 aggregate victory. The June 22 match was Guzan's ninth appearance with the National Team. Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan was also involved in the game, playing 90 minutes in the midfield in his seventh appearance with the National Team and first World Cup Qualifier.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 28 AT RITCHIE VALENS RECREATION CENTER IN PACOIMA:
'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this Saturday, June 28, with a clinic at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Pacoima. 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 at Rosecrans Recreation Center at 840 W. 149th St. in Gardena on June 21. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
CHIVAS USA LEARNS DATES OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES VS. PANAMA'S TAURO F.C.:
Chivas USA learned last week the exact dates of its matches against Tauro F.C. of Panama in the Preliminary Round of the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League. The Red-and-White will travel Panama City for the first leg of the home-and-home series on Tuesday, August 26, and then will host Tauro at a Los Angeles location to be determined one week later, on September 2. The draw for the Group Stage of the tournament was also held today, with the winner of the Chivas USA vs. Tauro F.C. pairing to advance to Group D. The other teams in the group include Santos Laguna of Mexico, either Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa of Guatemala, and the winner of the Preliminary Round matchup between LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica and the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division.
RAPHAËL WICKY ON THIS WEEK'S 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA':
Join Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez this Thursday on W Radio 690 AM, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. PT for 'Pasión Chivas USA', the team's official weekly radio program. This week, Cervantez and Gamboa will speak with Chivas USA midfielder Raphaël Wicky ahead of Saturday night's match against the New York Red Bulls. The show will also feature information on the upcoming soccer camps and Chivas USA Youth Team tryouts that the team will be running. All this, opportunities to win tickets to Chivas USA matches, and much more on 'Pasión Chivas USA.'
CHIVAS USA PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR ALL-STAR VOTING:
Twelve Chivas USA stars have been announced as eligible for selection to the 2008 MLS All-Star Team, which will take on English Premier League side West Ham United on July 24 in Toronto. Fans can vote online by visiting www.MLSnet.com before July 2, and the All-Star 'First XI' will be announced on July 10. The Chivas USA players eligible are goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defenders Jonathan Bornstein, Claudio Suárez, Shavar Thomas and Lawson Vaughn, midfielders Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza, Paulo Nagamura and Raphaël Wicky, and forwards Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov.
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 soon for preview videos (one in English, one in Spanish) for the match against the Chicago Fire. Check http://chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!
TEAM INJURY UPDATE:
Chivas USA's 2-0 win over Chicago on Thursday saw two players continue their returns from injury, as midfielder Raphaël Wicky (R ankle sprain) earned his first start for the club, and Jonathan Bornstein (L knee LCL sprain) played the second half. Lawson Vaughn missed the match with left ankle tendonitis, and still out of the lineup last week were defender Alex Zotinca (R knee ACL surgery), and forwards Alecko Eskandarian (sports hernia surgery) and Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery).
PACHUCA AND SANTOS IN CHIVAS USA'S INCREDIBLE $50 FIVE-GAME PACK:
Fans looking to see Chivas USA in 2008 have an opportunity to watch the five biggest games of the season with the Chivas USA Five-Game Pack, Southern California's best sports entertainment value, with packages starting at just $50. A recent addition to the pack are a pair of highly anticipated SuperLiga matches against Pachuca CF and Santos, both of Mexico's First Division, in games to be played on July 13 and 17 at The Home Depot Center. Also included in the set are July 5 versus the San Jose Earthquakes, Aug. 14 against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the closing game of the season, which doubles as Fan Appreciation night, Oct. 25 against the Houston Dynamo. For more information please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
CHIVAS USA BIRTHDAYS:
Chivas USA defender Jim Curtin, an offseason acquisition from Chicago who has played ten games (starting nine) as a center back this season, celebrates his 29th birthday today, Monday, June 23rd, and Head Coach Preki will celebrate his 45th birthday tomorrow, June 24.
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE: JUNE 24 - JULY 5*
Following is Chivas USA's latest schedule of travel, events, matches and practice sessions:
Tuesday, June 24: Chivas USA Reserves vs. Los Angeles Legends (PDL), 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Wednesday, June 25: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Thursday, June 26: [Closed training session]
Friday, June 27: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT, Field 6
Saturday, June 28: Chivas USA vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.(TV: FSN Prime Ticket, KAZA Azteca 54, HDNet; Radio: W Radio 690 AM; Pregame shows start @ 7:00 p.m. PT on FSN and W Radio; 'Somos Chivas USA' starts @ 6:30 p.m. PT on KAZA, followed by pregame)
• The Disneyland Resorts night at the stadium, fans will be treated to a special halftime moment featuring favorite Disney characters
• Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com for tickets
Sunday, June 29 - Friday, July 4: TBD
Saturday, July 5: Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. PT, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.(TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Español; Radio: W Radio 690 AM; Pregame show starts at 7:00 p.m. PT on W Radio)
• Chivas USA faces San Jose in 'California Clásico' for the first time since 2005
*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.
