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First-place Chivas hosts East-leading D.C. United this Saturday

May 11, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


EAST MEETS WEST AS FIRST-PLACE CHIVAS USA HOSTS SECOND-PLACE D.C. UNITED THIS SATURDAY: The top team from the East comes to The Home Depot Center to face Western Conference- and MLS-leading Chivas USA this Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. With the top offense in MLS (15 goals), D.C. United (3-1-5, 14 pts) will take on Chivas USA (7-1-1, 22 pts), which boasts the top defense in the league, with just three goals against. The Red-and-White are coming off a 1-0 win over rival Real Salt Lake this past Saturday at home, a game which extended the club's home winning streak to five games to start the 2009 season. A special 'Kids Pack' is available for Saturday's game, giving one child 16 and under a free ticket for every adult ticket purchased (8 maximum), starting at just $15. For more information on the match, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

RED-AND-WHITE EARN FIFTH STRAIGHT HOME WIN WITH 1-0 TRIUMPH OVER RSL: Chivas USA maintained its perfect home record (5-0-0) in 2009 with a 1-0 victory over fellow 2005 expansion club Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. The game's only goal came in the 54th minute when Eduardo Lillingston sent a cross into the box that the RSL defense attempted to clear before it fell to Sacha Kljestan, who played a header directly to Paulo Nagamura, whose 20-yard shot found the net. It was Nagamura's team-leading third goal of the season. On the other end of the field, goalkeeper Zach Thornton earned his league-leading sixth shutout of the season, making two saves to preserve the win. Thornton has allowed just three goals in the first nine games of the season, earning a goals against average of just 0.33.

CHIVAS USA TIED FOR SECOND-BEST START IN MLS SINCE 2000: The Red-and-White's record of 7-1-1 (22 points) ties the team with the 2001 Miami Fusion for the second-best record through nine games since MLS began recording ties in the 2000 season. Chivas USA is one point behind the 2000 Kansas City Wizards, who started with a record of 7-0-2 (23 points). The common thread between all three teams? Current Chivas USA Head Coach Preki, who played for both the 2001 Fusion and the 2000 Wizards. The 2000 Wizards started the season 10-0-2 (W-L-T) through 12 games before recording its first loss, while the 2001 Fusion had a record of 10-1-1 through 12 games before behind held to its second draw of the season. Preki was an All-Star for both teams, and both also went on to win the Supporters' Shield.

GOALKEEPER ZACH THORNTON LEADS MLS WITH SIX SHUTOUTS: Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton tops MLS with six shutouts so far in 2009, making two saves in a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday to earn another clean sheet. With outstanding play this season, Thornton now leads MLS in shutouts, saves, wins, and has a goals-against average (GAA) of just 0.33, good for second in the league behind Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Thornton's clean sheet on Saturday gave him 64 shutouts in his career, pulling the veteran to within moving him to within one of Joe Cannon for second place on MLS' all-time shutout list, behind Kevin Hartman (80).

CHIVAS USA YOUTH PRODUCT GERSON MAYÉN TIED FOR MLS LEAD IN ASSISTS: Chivas USA's Gerson Mayén is in good company atop the MLS assists list, tied at four with Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Amado Guevara, and Clint Mathis. On April 25 against FC Dallas, Mayén earned his fourth assist of the season, feeding Alecko Eskandarian for the Red-and-White's second goal in a 2-0 win over FC Dallas. Mayén made his MLS debut in Chivas USA's second game of the season, a 2-0 win at FC Dallas on March 29, and also earned his first assist in the match. A former member of the Chivas USA U-18 Team, Mayén has played 7 games this season (starting 3).

CAL SOUTH STATE CHAMP AMERICA UNITED G94 BLUE IN THIS WEEK'S 'YOUTH SOCCER SPOTLIGHT': This week's Youth Soccer Spotlight is the America United G94 Blue team, Cal South State Champions after earning a perfect 7-0-0 record at the State Cup, scoring 15 goals and allowing just two. Each week, Chivas USA's Youth Soccer Spotlight features a local soccer team or club at every Red-and-White home game. Teams are highlighted on Chivas USA broadcasts, as well as on-field prior to kickoff, and even get to take a team photo on the Red-and-White's bench. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth Soccer Spotlight, or nominate your team, please contact Chris Wode at cwode@cdchivasusa.com, or 310-630-4581.

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL OF LONG BEACH IS SATURDAY'S BAND OF THE GAME: This Saturday, the Wilson High School Band of Long Beach will perform before and during Chivas USA's match vs. D.C. United at The Home Depot Center. At each home game, Chivas USA features one local high school band as part of its colorful in-stadium atmosphere. Also being honored on Saturday night as Chivas USA's Schools of the Game are Palms Middle School, Norwalk High School, and South Gate High School, who will have students in attendance at the game. For more information on Chivas USA's 'Band of the Game' program, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

INJURY UPDATE: STEPANOVIC STARTS, VICTORINE PLAYS AS SUB: Chivas USA midfielder Sasha Victorine, made his second appearance since returning from left knee microfracture surgery, entering Saturday's match as a 73th-minute sub for Eduardo Lillingston, while midfielder Bojan Stepanovic overcame a sprained shoulder to start the match. Several more Chivas USA players, currently recovering from offseason surgeries and other injuries, are gradually returning to practice. For a full copy of the latest Chivas USA Injury Report, please visit MLSnet.com.

CHIVAS USA INJURY REPORT (As of Monday, 5/11):

Bobby Burling Sports hernia surgery Out

Ante Jazic Concussion Out

Dan Kennedy Right knee sprain Out

Ante Razov Right ankle surgery Out

Claudio Suárez Left calf strain Out

Lawson Vaughn Left ankle surgery Out

Alecko Eskandarian Right hamstring strain Questionable

CHIVAS USA YOUTH TEAMS FACE ARSENAL FC THIS SATURDAY AT CERRITOS COLLEGE: The Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 Teams both fell in close games to Pateadores this past Saturday at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, with the U-18's on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision, and the U-16's losing 4-3. Both teams are back in action this coming Saturday, returning home to Cerritos College to face Arsenal FC. The U-16's kick off first, at 12:00 noon, and will be followed immediately by the U-18's, at 2:15 p.m. The U-18's currently hold a record of 13-7-4 (W-L-T), while the U-16's are 9-8-7 in the 2008-09 season. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth System, please visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t120/youth.

TUNE IN TO 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA' THIS THURSDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PT ON W RADIO 690 AM: Fans can tune in to 'Pasión Chivas USA', airing this Thursday night from 5-6 p.m. PT on W Radio 690 AM. Hosts Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez, who also serve as play-by-play and color commentator for every Chivas USA match of the 2009 MLS season, will preview Saturday's match against D.C. United and feature players from both teams on this week's show. The official weekly radio program of the Red-and-White, 'Pasión Chivas USA' covers everything on the Major League Soccer club, from match commentary, recent news from the team, interviews, contests to win tickets to Chivas USA matches, as well as phone calls from fans listening to the show.

DON'T MISS 'SOMOS CHIVAS USA' THIS SATURDAY AT 1:30 P.M. PT ON KAZA AZTECA 54: Fans, don't miss Chivas USA's official weekly TV show, "Somos Chivas USA'. Featuring renowned co-hosts Mara Almada and Antonio Rosique, with reporting by renowned Chiva-expert Ramón Diaz, 'Somos Chivas USA' gives viewers an inside look at the Red-and-White, including player features, match analysis, highlights, and much more. This week's 'Somos Chivas USA' is scheduled to air on KAZA Azteca 54 in Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 16, complete with special features and commentaries on Chivas USA. Tune in this Saturday for your 'Somos Chivas USA!'

GUADALAJARA UPDATE: CHIVAS LOSE HEARTBREAKER TO INDIOS: Chivas de Guadalajara's Clausura 2009 season came to a close this past Sunday when the team fell to Indios de Ciudad Juárez by a 3-1 score, leaving the team just short of a berth in the playoffs. Alberto Medina scored the only goal for Chivas, who finish the season with a record of 5-7-5 (W-L-T). The team has also left the Copa Libertadores in a decision made with the Mexican Soccer Federation after South American clubs refused to play matches in Mexico due to Swine Flu concerns.

JOIN CHIVAS USA'S NEW SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE AT MYCHIVASUSA.COM: Last week, Chivas USA launched MyChivasUSA.com, a social networking site designed for fans of the Red-and-White. The social network was created using the Ning platform, and allows fans to customize a profile, set up blogs, add photos and videos, send messages and chat, track matches they've attended, and much more. Several Chivas USA players, including Jonathan Bornstein and Alecko Eskandarian, as well as members of the ChivaGirls, have already set up profiles on the page. Chivas USA season ticket holders and members of the Union Ultras and Legión 1908 supporters groups were among a select group of members invited to join the site last week. For more information, or to make your own account, please visit MyChivasUSA.com and click on the 'Sign Up' link.

CHIVAS USA 2009 SEASON SEATS: Chivas USA's 18-game Season Seat Package is on sale via 1-877-CHIVAS-1 and cdchivasusa.com. The package includes a seat at each of the team's 11 remaining MLS home matches, as well as three bonus games to be announced. Season Seat holders also have the right to exchange unused tickets, plus a host of other benefits. For more information, or to purchase your Season Seat today, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

VISIT 'DENTRO DEL REBAÑO', CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BLOG: Chivas USA's official blog, 'Dentro del Rebaño' (or 'Inside the Flock') will contain updated content on the team throughout the season. Check out chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!



Major League Soccer Stories from May 11, 2009


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