Decisive SuperLiga match vs. San Luis this Saturday

Published on June 24, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


Chivas USA fell 1-0 tonight to the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in its second group game of SuperLiga 2009, the tournament which pits top teams from Major League Soccer and Mexican First Division teams against each other for bragging rights and one of the biggest prize purses in the region.

- Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp scored the game's only goal in the 35th minute, striking a left-footed shot past Zach Thornton from the edge of the penalty area, following several failed clearance attempts by the Chivas USA defense.

- For tonight's match, Chivas USA was missing Southern California natives Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, both currently in South Africa with the U.S. National Team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, as well as six additional players, due to injury: Bobby Burling, Dan Kennedy, Ante Razov, Lawson Vaughn, Justin Braun and Atiba Harris.

- In addition, Head Coach Preki rested three starters from Saturday's opening match vs. Tigres UANL (Claudio Suárez, Jesse Marsch, Maykel Galindo), while giving starting roles to Shavar Thomas, Jorge Flores, Michael Lahoud and Alecko Eskandarian for the first time during the SuperLiga 2009 tournament.

- Chivas USA defender Mariano Trujillo was subbed out of the match in the 22nd minute after suffering an apparent left hamstring strain. Trujillo is scheduled to undergo further medical examination upon return to Los Angeles to determine the extent of the injury.

- Post-Game Audio from Chivas USA players including Mariano Trujillo, Zach Thornton, Maykel Galindo and Jesse Marsch, as well as Head Coach Preki, is available on Dentro del Rebaño ('Inside the Flock'), the official bilingual blog of Chivas USA.

- Chivas USA returns Wednesday to Southern California for its decisive third group game in SuperLiga vs. San Luis, when it hosts the Mexican club this Saturday, June 27 at The Home Depot Center. Kickoff for Saturday's game is 7:00 p.m. PT and tickets, starting at just $15, are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visiting cdchivasusa.com.

- To secure advancement to the SuperLiga semifinals, Chivas USA will need to defeat San Luis by several goals this Saturday, while hoping for a Chicago Fire win over Tigres UANL in the evening's first game. Any other result in Saturday's Chicago-Tigres match (e.g. a Tigres win or tie) will eliminate Chivas USA. This is the scenario for advancement, following San Luis's 3-1 win over Tigres UANL tonight in the second match of the evening's doubleheader.

- San Luis, with stars Alfredo Moreno, Braulio Luna, Tressor Moreno and Orange County native Michael Orozco, is scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Wednesday at 5:28 p.m. PT on American Airlines flight #455 (nonstop from Chicago), before holding practice sessions on Thursday and Friday in Southern California. Chivas USA also trains Thursday and Friday at The Home Depot Center. Contact Chivas USA Communications for the latest training information for both teams.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 24, 2009


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