Chivas USA Weekly Update

Published on September 26, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, September 26, 2006) - With just three games remaining in the 2006 Major League Soccer season, Chivas USA (10-7-12, 42 pts) looks to unseat the reigning MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy (9-14-6, 33 pts) this Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center in the fourth and final 'Honda Super Clásico' of 2006 (TV: FSN WEST; Radio: KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio; Web: MLSLIVE.tv).

TEAM UPDATES: Chivas USA, currently second in the Western Conference, is coming off last Saturday's 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at The Home Depot Center, while the Galaxy, currently last in the West, is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. Depending on other results in the Western Conference, a Chivas USA win this Saturday could qualify the Red-and-White for the playoffs for the first time team history, while an L.A. loss could see the Galaxy miss the playoffs for the first time ever.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Chivas USA enters Saturday's match in sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, on 42 points, seven points behind Western Conference leaders FC Dallas (49) and just one ahead of the Houston Dynamo (41 pts). The Red-and-White can clinch a playoff spot for the first time in the team's short history with a win this Saturday over the Galaxy, combined with a loss or draw by Real Salt Lake, which plays at Kansas City this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT (7:30 p.m. local time).

HISTORY & PRESS CONFERENCE: This will be the ninth meeting between the Galaxy and Chivas USA in official competition. In 2005, the Galaxy won all four regular-season matches, plus a Fourth Round match in the U.S. Open Cup...In 2006, the series has been even, with each team claiming a 2-1 win at 'home', plus a 0-0 draw in their most recent meeting on July 15. As such, Saturday's game represents the tiebreaker in the series...Ahead of Saturday's game, players and coaches from Chivas USA and the Galaxy will appear in a press conference, this Friday, September 29 at 12:45 p.m. PT in the TV Studio at The Home Depot Center.

TV & CREDENTIALS: Saturday's match will be televised LIVE in Southern California on FSN WEST; please note that this represents a change from the previous listing on FSN PRIME TICKET...As this will be a Galaxy home game, all media intending to cover Saturday's match should contact the Galaxy Communications Department for credentials and parking passes (Seth Burton, 310-630-2216, sburton@lagalaxy.com). Please note that Chivas USA credentials and passes will NOT be accepted for Saturday's match.

CLÁSICO, PART DEUX: Following Saturday's match, the Chivas USA Reserves (3-3-3, 12 pts) take on the Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves (2-6-2, 8 pts), this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT at The Home Depot Center's University Field 1. Both teams are looking to catch the table-topping Colorado Rapids (9-3-0, 27 pts) in Major League Soccer's fledgling Reserve Division, which opened play just last year. Admission is free; fans and media members are encouraged to attend.

UPCOMING CHIVAS USA GAMES: After facing the Galaxy, Chivas USA travels to Missouri to take on the Kansas Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, October 7. Chivas USA then plays its 2006 MLS regular-season closer at The Home Depot Center against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, October 15. This special match will feature not only a free blanket, sponsored by Chivas USA and HSBC, for the first 10,000 fans in attendance, but also special post-game performance by a surprise musical guest.

INJURY UPDATE: Five Chivas USA players are listed as 'out' for this weekend's game against the Galaxy: World Cup veterans Juan Francisco Palencia (R knee MCL sprain, suffered 9/13 @ FC Dallas), John O'Brien (R patella tendonitis, from June's World Cup in Germany) and Ramón Ramírez (season-ending L knee surgery for an MCL sprain suffered in preseason), as well as developmental players Mike Muñoz (season-ending R ankle surgery) and Estuardo Sánchez (L foot surgery). Forward Ante Razov (R adductor strain) and midfielder Juan Pablo García (L adductor strain) are listed as questionable.

HERE'S 'JOHNNIE': For five years, Chivas fans have come to recognize a talented defender-midfielder who bore the name 'Johnny G.' on the back of his red-and-white jersey. Problem is, the spelling of Mr. García's name had been incorrectly registered with the Mexican Federation since the beginning of his career. The real spelling: 'Johnnie', as shown on his passport, his driver's license, and the jersey he wore in his Chivas USA debut last Saturday, when he entered as a 69th-minute sub. Media are asked to please take note.

CHIVAGIRLS 2007 CALENDAR: The ChivaGirls Calendar, back and hotter than ever in 2007, is now available for purchase online at ChivaGirls.com, for a special price of just $13.50! This seductive 14-month calendar, shot in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico, by photographer Mike Nowak, features all 14 members of Chivas USA's popular female ambassador squad. The ChivaGirls 2007 Calendar makes for a great Christmas or New Year's gift. Buy yours today at ChivaGirls.com!

CLAUDIO IN ESPN DEPORTES LA REVISTA: Chivas USA defender and three-time World Cup veteran Claudio Suárez appears as the main feature story in the October edition of ESPN Deportes La Revista, the Spanish-language sister publication of ESPN The Magazine. With a circulation of over 50,000, ESPN Deportes La Revista, a full-color monthly magazine, is published by Editorial Televisa and ESPN Deportes and targets the Spanish-language market in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

GUADALAJARA UPDATE: Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Chivas USA's Mexican sister team, fell 2-1 on Saturday to intra-city rival Tecos UAG at the Estadio Tres de Marzo. Omar Bravo scored Chivas' lone goal, while Francisco Bravo and Carlos Casartelli scored for Tecos. This Saturday, Guadalajara faces archrival Club América at the Estadio Jalisco in Mexico's own 'Super Clásico', which starts at 5:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. local time). Guadalajara (3-3-4, 13 pts) is currently in fourth place in six-team Group 1 of the Mexican Apertura 2006 season.

'SANGRE CHIVA': Be sure to tune in, this and every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. PT, to 'Sangre Chiva', Chivas USA's weekly radio show on KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Hipólito Gamboa and former Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara goalkeeper Martín Zúñiga, the hour-long program features exclusive interviews, match analysis and special ticket offers, plus all the latest Chivas USA news and happenings.

'SOMOS CHIVAS USA': Don't miss, this and every Saturday from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. PT, 'Somos Chivas USA', Chivas USA's official weekly program on KAZA Azteca 54, official Spanish-language television broadcast partner of Chivas USA. Recorded each week at The Home Depot Center, this exciting 30-minute show gives fans an exclusive insider's look at the world of Chivas USA.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 26, 2006


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