Chivas USA Academy Teams' Opponents Revealed

Published on June 17, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


U.S. Soccer Federation announced today the groups that will be participating in the 2013 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. Chivas USA U15/16 will face Albertson SC, Chicago Magic and South Carolina Battery Academy, while the U17/18 will meet Albertson SC, D.C. United and De Anza Force. Both groups will travel to Frisco, Texas, host of the USSDA Playoffs next week.

Chivas USA's U17/18 Team were able to earn their spot in the playoffs after a 2-1 win over then-first place the LA Galaxy U17/18 Team in their final game of the season. The Red-and-White U17/18 Team have already faced two of their three opponents: De Anza Force and D.C. United. In the Academy's participation in the 2012 Winter Showcase, Chivas USA's U17/18 defeated the D.C. United side 4-3. While the young Goats will hope to equalize the final score against D.C. United, they will be looking for revenge against De Anza Force after falling to them 4-1 in early March.

For the past three weeks, both teams have been focusing on improving as a team since they were unaware who their opponent would be. Despite having a positive history in their favor, the young Goats know that they'll want to start their playoff run on the right foot, and what better way than to earn positive results in their first two games.

"Both [Red-and-White] teams have been working hard since the end of the season. The entire coaching staff and players only have one thing in mind, and it is winning the national championship. We're ready to face any opponent that we get," said Chivas USA's U15/16 coach Mike Muñoz after learning the teams' future opponents.

In the playoffs, the top two teams who earn the most points in each group advance to the Academy Finals Week set for July 14-19 in Dallas, Texas. For all Youth Academy information, make sure to follow us on Twitter: @cdchivasusa and @ChivasUSAYouth.

Morales and Mexico Conclude World Cup Preparations

Mexico's U-20 National Team and Chivas USA forward Julio Morales held their final preparation match ahead of the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup last Saturday facing La Nucia, Albir's local team in Spain. Morales played 90 minutes and scored the last goal to give the Mexican side the final 4-2 score.

In a match where the visiting team marked an obvious hegemony over the Spaniards, José Javier Abellá opened the scoreboard in the 24th minute of the match. Even though the Mexicans maintained a strong possession throughout the game, the teams went to halftime with a 1-1 draw after La Nucia equalized in the 38th minute.

El Tri returned to the second half with determination and the objective to earn a victory that would give them the confidence they need for their first game of the World Cup. In the 49th minute, the Mexicans went back up in the scoreboard with a goal from Armando Zamorano, but the local team was able to come back two minutes later. Fortunately for Mexico, both Jesús Corona and Red-and-White forward Julio Morales were able to seal the final 4-2 score in the 62nd and 87th minute respectively.

After closing their preparation schedule, El Tri travelled to Instanbul, where they will later head to Gaziantep, host city for the National Team in the World Cup. Mexico's U20 will begin their participation in the World Cup on Saturday, June 22 facing the youth squad of Greece at the Kamil Ocak Stadium.

Red-and-White Train Ahead of a Busy Week

Chivas USA continued their training today in preparation for their trip to Canada where they will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. (PT). Four days later, the Rojiblancos will host archrival LA Galaxy in the second SuperClásico of the 2013 Major League Soccer season on Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m. (PT).

Training kicked off with a light jog around the pitch and a series of exercises geared toward core strengthening at the center of the field under the instructions of Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach Claudio Trabattoni. Afterwards the players broke up into groups of four and incorporated light ball work into their session, as one player would play a pass to his awaiting teammate and then run to occupy the vacant space in an alternating rhythm.

The drill was then altered by incorporating a defender into the routine to shadow the player who possessed the ball. The group was then broken up into two, with each group occupying one half of the pitch. One side completed defensive tactical work while the players on the far side ran through offensive tactical work under the guidance of Head Coach José Luis Real.

Training then culminated with the two groups uniting to compete in an 11-on-11 scrimmage that ran the length of the pitch under Real's instructions. Afterwards the team moved into some stretching exercises before being dismissed for the day. The Rojiblancos will have one last training session in Los Angeles Tuesday morning before departing to Vancouver later that day.

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