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Rare Clash of Conference Leaders Thursday on ESPN2

May 26, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Clarification: Yesterday's edition of The Pitch mentioned that this Thursday's match between the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) is the fifth meeting in a decade between MLS conference leaders. The list of the previous four only includes meetings between leaders in sole possession of first place that have played at least 10 games.

The Pitch: MLS Weekly Newsletter

Volume 10: May 25, 2009

- Best in MLS Meet Thursday on ESPN2

- Amado Guevara Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 10

- MLS Quotables

- Previewing Week 11 of the MLS Regular Season

Best Offense takes on Best Defense on ESPN 2, Thursday, 10:30 p.m. ET

For just the fifth time in a decade, two teams in sole possession of first place in their respective conferences will meet when Chivas USA hosts the Chicago Fire Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The old adage is that defense wins championships, but in the regular season, does offense rule? That question will be tested Thursday.

The Fire (4-0-6) are the only remaining undefeated team in Major League Soccer. The Fire lead the League in goals scored with 17, an average of 1.70 per game, and they have not been shut out. Brian McBride is tied for the League lead with six goals in 10 games. Mexican playmaker Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who will report for Mexico's World Cup qualifiers next week, is as crafty as ever, providing a goal and five assists (tied for 2nd in the league), for the Fire.

Chivas USA coach Preki has his squad atop the Western Conference and top of the overall MLS table with a 7-1-3 record and 24 points. Chivas USA has allowed only six goals in 11 matches. Much credit goes to five-time MLS All-Star goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who has rejuvenated his career after playing just nine games in the past two seasons. He leads the League with six shutouts and a 0.55 goals against average. Chivas USA are 5-0-1 at home this season.

Current Chivas USA squad members Zach Thornton, Jesse Marsch, and Ante Razov all played for the Chicago Fire's 1998 MLS Cup Championship team and defender Jim Curtin spent his first eight seasons with the Fire. The 1998 Fire are the only team to win MLS Cup in their inaugural season.

In the past 10 seasons, the only other meetings between two teams in sole possession of the conference leads occurred later in the season (records entering the match):

08/08/2004 LA Galaxy (9-5-6) 0, at MetroStars (8-6-5) 3 07/04/2006 D.C. United (10-1-5) 1, at FC Dallas (8-4-3) 0 07/22/2007 Houston Dynamo (10-5-3) 3, at New England Revolution (7-3-5) 3 07/04/2008 New England Revolution (9-4-3) 2, at LA Galaxy (6-5-3) 1

Toronto FC Midfielder Amado Guevara Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 10

Toronto FC midfielder Amado Guevara was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 10 of the 2009 season. Guevara scored two goals to help Toronto FC down the New England Revolution 3-1 at BMO Field on Saturday, May 23.

Guevara's two goals, his fourth and fifth of the season, led Toronto to the victory and improved their record to 4-3-4 with 16 points. They sit tied in points for second place in the Eastern Conference with D.C. United. The MLS Player of the Week award is the fifth for Guevara and first since the 2006 season when he was a member of the New York Red Bulls. Guevara will lead Toronto FC in action when they travel to face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, May 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET. For more on Guevara's Player of the Week award click here.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

MLS Quotables

Chivas player Sasha Victorine on his stats against his former team, the Kansas City Wizards:

"It's one goal and two assists. But who's keeping track? It's funny. You always have energy and emotion when you come back."

Houston Dynamo's Kei Kamara on their 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes:

"Tonight, I wanted to go out there and make my mark on this game. Some of them were out there kicking, throwing elbows, doing whatever they have to do. They have to stop good players, and that is what they were trying to do. They were trying to stop me, but they couldn't do it."

Seattle's Kasey Keller on stopping a Nick LaBrocca shot that could have tied the match:

"I was very happy with the angle (on the second shot), and he would have had to do something special to beat me from there. You don't want to make his mind up for him. Don't be leaning one way. Don't do those things. Stand up and make him beat you, and luckily I was able to get my hands on it and get it over the bar."

Previewing Week 11: May 27-31, 2009

Wednesday, May 27

San Jose Earthquakes at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Two teams looking to climb out of the bottom half of the standings in their respective conferences collide in Columbus as the defending MLS champs look to remain unbeaten in the month of May. Reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been the focal point of the Crew attack, scoring goals in the Crew's 3-2 victory over Kansas City, and against the Los Angeles Galaxy for their sixth draw. San Jose is 0-4-0 with two goals scored and 11 against on the road this season.

Thursday, May 28

Chicago Fire at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

- Major League Soccer's top two teams meet for the first time this year. Could it be a preview of MLS Cup 2009? Representing the West is a resilient team that began the season with a slew of injuries but has refused to make excuses; Chivas USA (7-1-3) has set the pace with an eight-point lead over second-placed Seattle Sounders FC, despite recording ties in its last two games. From the East comes Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Brian McBride and their unbeaten Chicago Fire side (4-0-6), who are fresh off consecutive road wins to lead the Eastern Conference.

Saturday, May 30

D.C. United at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (Direct Kick, Match Center)

- D.C. United (3-1-7) can't stop adding to the "T" column, though their scoreless tie at home to Real Salt Lake on Saturday was enough to edge themselves atop -- albeit briefly -- a tight Eastern pack. Down toward the bottom it's been a rocky start for United's Northeast rivals -- the New England Revolution (2-3-4). Yet Shalrie Joseph is adapting to life as a forward with a goal in each of the past two games.

Toronto FC at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. (Direct Kick, Match Center)

- Both these teams are enjoying an upswing in form as the season moves into its middle third. Toronto FC (4-3-4) finally made good on its attacking brand of soccer by scoring three in a defeat of New England last weekend -- the first time the Canadian side has bagged more than a single goal at home this year. That win has kept Dwayne De Rosario and Co. in the hunt for their first playoff appearance. The Dynamo (4-2-3) is unbeaten at home, having conceded just two goals at Robertson Stadium.

Colorado Rapids at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (Direct Kick, Match Center)

- When the New York Red Bulls (2-6-3) began this four-game homestand with an impressive 4-1 win, it looked as though their trying start to 2009 was history. A tie and a loss later and New York is back to needing points to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. In the way are the Colorado Rapids (3-2-4) who swept the Red Bulls in two encounters last year, including a wild 5-4 win at Giants Stadium.

Columbus Crew at Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- Sigi Schmid will meet his former team for the first time since they raised the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy as MLS Cup Champions last year. Schmid has led the Sounders FC to second place in the Western Conference and are 3-1-1 when playing in front their always sold out crowd at Qwest Field. Robert Warzycha will look to neutralize Fredy Montero, who scored his first goal since March 28th in the Sounders FC 2-2 tie with Colorado last weekend.

Kansas City Wizards at Los Angeles Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Los Angeles Galaxy enter Saturday's match up with the Kansas City Wizards on an eight game unbeaten streak. The Galaxy (1-1-8) lead the league with eight draws. Landon Donovan will have the chance to take the Budweiser Golden Boot lead after recording his sixth goal of the season in last weekends 1-1 draw with FC Dallas. Tied in goals with Donovan are Colorado's Conor Casey and Kansas City's Josh Wolff, who will miss the game due to red card suspension along with Wizards midfielder Santiago Hirsig.

Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Real Salt Lake will look to put an end to their road woes and find the back of the net against a San Jose Earthquake team that has given up a league leading 19 goals thus far this season. San Jose returns home after a three game road swing that ended Wednesday in Columbus.

Sunday, May 31

FC Dallas at Chicago Fire, 3:00 p.m. (Telefutura)

- Chris Rolfe in good form recently. Primarily entering games as a substitute, the Dayton, Ohio product has scored goals in each of his last two games. This will mark the second and final contest between these teams this regular season. In the first, on opening weekend, goals by Brian McBride, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and Justin Mapp propelled the Fire to a 3-1 victory.

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