Chivas USA Defeats Misioneros in Friendly

Published on May 1, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


As part of the week's training schedule ahead of the match against Sporting Kansas City in MLS' Week 10, Chivas USA hosted a friendly scrimmage against the Los Angeles Misioneros. The Red-and-White came up on top and defeated the PDL club 1-0 at The Home Depot Center's Field 6.

Wednesday's scrimmage, set up to help Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Solá see players he sees fit for Sunday's match against Kansas City, had the same expectations as any match; with the exception of injured players, just about all Red-and-White players took part of the friendly.

After a warm-up session to prepare for the scrimmage, the match kicked off and consisted of two, 35-minute halves. The Red-and-White coach used two different line-ups in each half in an effort to see the performance of each member of the squad.

Facing the Southern California lower-tier team, Chivas USA did not struggle in dominating the Los Angeles Misioneros, taking control of the ball and generating the most, and the best chances at goal, same chances that they hope they can develop in Sunday match at Sporting Park.

Coach Chelis Sanchez Solá stood by in the sidelines and continually gave his players instructions and inclusively added precise movements to help optimize the team's performance that will help lead them to their fourth victory of the 2013 MLS season.

After 70 minutes, the final whistle indicated that the match had concluded, but training had not finalized for Chivas USA; the two squads that took part of the scrimmage closed training with a light jog around the field and a series of stretching exercises on the sidelines.

Chivas USA will return to training for its third session this week this Thursday at 9:30 am at The Home Depot Center ahead of their match against Sporting Kansas City scheduled for this Sunday, May 5 at 2 pm PT at Sporting Park.

De Luna, part of MLS' Team of the Week

Chivas USA's back line continues to receive an ovation league wide. A few weeks ago, Bobby Burling's performance against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC put him in MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Week, and this week, Mario de Luna has been named to the elite group.

Just last week, Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Solá pulled the Red-and-White defender from the match against Real Salt Lake just minutes before the end of the first half, move made many wonder if de Luna was injured or the coach was simply not satisfied with his on-field performance.

The Mexican defender returned to Saturday's match against the San Jose Earthquakes to redeem himself and prove why, before the match against RSL, he had played every minute of the 2013 MLS season. Not only did De Luna go all 90 minutes on the pitch, but also scored his first MLS goal for Chivas USA, but also made two crucial saves that kept the Goats in the game.

Once he found out about his nomination, the Aguascalientes, Mexico native said that he was very happy for the distinguished honor, but also expressed his committed to continue improving his playing level so he can be considered week-to-week on MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Week.

"Me siento contento por esto", comenzÃ" De Luna después de conocer su nominaciÃ"n, "ahÃ- se ve el trabajo de lo que se hace semana a semana y para que en el partido estés en el equipo titular. También el hacer bien las cosas en el partido, estar bien concentrado y cuenta también mucho el apoyo de los compañeros, ya que uno solo no podrÃ-a ser nada.

"I feel very happy about it," De Luna said after learning about his nomination. "That's where you see all the work that we've been carrying out week to week just to get to the starting line-up. We also have to work hard on the field, be fully concentrated and also appreciate the support from my teammates, that without them, I couldn't do my job."

"Now, I have to match and improve my performance level. We have a game this weekend where we're determined to earn three points and continue the level that we carried out in the match against San Jose," the Chivas USA defender concluded.

Julio Morales, back home

After being out one week with the Mexican U20 National Team training camp, Julio Morales is back with Chivas USA. The 19 year-old forward returned to The Home Depot Center's Field 6 this week, just in time to get back on track with his teammates in a practice scrimmage against PDL-side LA Misioneros FC.

"I felt good physically and mentally being back here with my team. I'm ready to work hard and focus on my team and the league because even though we're doing well so far, we have to continue moving up," Morales said after the scrimmage with the Misioneros.

Morales joined the Mexican youth squad on April 22nd for a week-long training camp just two days after going all 90 minutes in the Red-and-White's match at Real Salt Lake. The camp was held in Indiana as a preparation for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup, set to take place from June 21st- July 23 in Turkey.

"It [the camp] was interesting, to say the least; there was a lot of competition. But overall, it was good experience and I felt very good. Thankfully I was taken into consideration this time, and personally, I thought I did well and now we wait to see if I get called up again.

While with the U20's, Morales played in the two games against the University of Notre Dame and the University of Indiana. Though the San Jose native didn't score in any of the games, Morales went all 90 minutes against the Fighting Irish.

"I think I have the skills and the capacities to be on the squad that goes to the World Cup. I went to this camp, gave it my all, and hopefully the coach [Sergio Almaguer] takes me into consideration. By the end, the coach told me that I did things very well and to continue working hard and we'll see where we go from there," he finalized.

'Chore' Mejia ready for his return

The match suspension that midfielder Edgar "Chore" Mejia received after a red card in the match against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Week 8 has been served after his absence in last Saturday's match against San Jose at The Home Depot Center.

Consequently, ahead of the Week 10 match against Sporting Kansas City, Chivas USA's number eight has become eligible to return to action; after watching his team from the stands for the first time, Edgar Mejia assured that he can't live through that again.

"It's not good being out of action, and much less due to a suspension. I'm sure that it won't happen again, and though its how soccer is, today I'm very happy to be eligible and have the opportunity to join the team against Kansas City this weekend.

"Even though this was the first time that this has happened to me, a suspension in this league or any other, looks bad on the player, but now that it has happened to me, it's a lesson that I've learned and it won't happen again," he indicated.

Before his suspension in the match against Real Salt Lake, Edgar Mejia had been one of the regulars in Chivas USA's line-up, playing in seven of the nine games in the 2013 MLS season, all of which were starts, and disputed practically every minute of them.

Yet, not just because he has been a regular in the Red-and-White line-up and is now eligible for an official match, means that it'll guarantee him a starting spot. The midfielder himself stated that he has to work as much as he can to be considered by the Red-and-White coach.

"Just because I'm eligible, it doesn't guarantee that I'm going to play, it simply means that I'll be at the coach's disposition, and if I get a chance, I'll happily give it my best, with the responsibility that the team needs to continue adding points in the standings," the Mexican midfielder said.

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