First-place Chivas visits Kansas City Wizards

Published on May 18, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CHIVAS USA VISITS KANSAS CITY AHEAD OF MAY 28 BATTLE VS. BLANCO AND THE FIRE: First-place Chivas USA has an important ten-day stretch coming up, first facing the Kansas City Wizards on the road this Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. CT (5:30 p.m. PT) before returning to The Home Depot Center to face Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire on Thursday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. PT. Currently, Chivas USA is the top team in Major League Soccer with a 7-1-2 record (W-L-T) and 23 points, while the Fire are still undefeated in 2009 with a 3-0-6 record (15 points). The match is Blanco's final road game before joining the Mexican National Team for the upcoming 2010 World Cup Qualifiers for 'El Tri.' Special ticket deals for the match are available; for more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

RED-AND-WHITE REMAIN IN FIRST AND PRESERVE UNDEFEATED HOME RECORD VS. D.C. UNITED: Chivas USA maintained its eight-point lead on the rest of MLS with a 2-2 draw at home against D.C. United on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center, moving the Red-and-White's home record to 5-0-1 in 2009. Maykel Galindo, making his first start for Chivas USA in more than a year, scored his first goal of the season, Eduardo Lillingston added his third of the campaign, and midfielder Atiba Harris notched a pair of assists. Before D.C.'s first goal in the 77th minute, Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton set a new club record for consecutive minutes without giving up a goal (401).

MAYKEL GALINDO SCORES IN FIRST START IN OVER A YEAR: Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo started his first match since May 11, 2008 on Saturday night against D.C. United, and scored the Red-and-White's first goal of the match in the 25th minute. Galindo received a pass from Atiba Harris behind the United defense and skipped past D.C. goalkeeper Louis Crayton before finishing into the empty net. It was the Cuban striker's first goal since the first match of 2008, a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on March 30, 2008.

GOALKEEPER ZACH THORNTON SETS CLUB RECORD SCORELESS STREAK: Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton set a new club record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. Before D.C. scored in the 77th minute, Thornton and the Chivas USA defense had not given up a goal in 401 minutes, beating the Red-and-White's previous record of 334 minutes, set by Brad Guzan in 2006. Thornton currently tops MLS with six shutouts so far in 2009, and has a goals-against average (GAA) of just 0.50, good for second in the league behind Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

CHIVAS USA MIDFIELDERS JORGE FLORES AND GERSON MAYEN CALLED IN TO U.S. U-20 TEAM: Chivas USA youth products and current first-team players Jorge Flores (Anaheim, Calif.) and Gerson Mayén (Los Angeles, Calif.) have been called into a United States Under-20 National Team camp running from May 23-28 by head coach Thomas Rongen. Flores and Mayén are tentatively scheduled to join the U-20's after the Chivas USA vs. Kansas City match this Saturday. The team will play an intra-squad scrimmage on May 24 and two friendlies against the Costa Rica U-20's on May 25 and 27. All games and training sessions will take place at the Sarasota Polo Grounds in Sarasota, Fla. The camp is part of the United States U-20 National Team's preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place in Egypt from Sept. 24-Oct. 16. The United States has been drawn into Group C alongside Germany, Cameroon and Korea Republic for the tournament.

INJURY UPDATE: GALINDO MAKES FIRST START: Chivas USA's Maykel Galindo made his first start since May 11, 2008 on Saturday night against D.C. United, after undergoing three sports hernia surgeries last year. He marked his return to the lineup with a goal in the 25th minute, his first tally since March 30, 2008, in the first match of last season.

CHIVAS USA INJURY REPORT (As of Friday, 5/15):

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

CHIVAS USA U-18 TEAM TOPS ARSENAL FC, YOUTH TEAMS TO TRAVEL TO FLORIDA: The Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 Teams faced Arsenal FC this past Saturday in their final matches before traveling to Sarasota, Fla., for a Development Academy showcase this coming weekend. The U-18 Team earned a 3-2 victory over the Arsenal U-18's, with goals coming from Daniel Castro, Jesse Paredes, and Victor Sanchez, while the U-16's fell 3-1, with Yohel de Jesus scoring the team's only goal. The teams now head to Florida for three matches, facing the Chicago Sockers FC on Friday, Greensboro Youth Soccer (N.C.) on Saturday, and Texas SC on Monday. The U-18's currently hold a record of 14-7-4 (W-L-T), while the U-16's are 9-9-7 in the 2008-09 season. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth System, please visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t120/youth.

WIN TICKETS TO SEE BLANCO AND FIRE THIS THURSDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PT ON W RADIO 690 AM'S 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA': 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 Kansas City, as well as next Thursday's huge game against Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets to the Fire game! 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.

CHIVAS USA'S SUPERLIGA SCHEDULE SET, WILL PLAY TIGRES UANL ON JUNE 20 AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: Chivas USA has learned its schedule and opponents for SuperLiga 2009, the third annual competition that pits top soccer teams from Mexico and the United States against each other. The Red-and-White will open Group A action in SuperLiga on Saturday, June 20, when it hosts Mexican side Tigres UANL at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. The Red-and-White will then travel to face MLS foes the Chicago Fire on June 23 at Toyota Park, before returning home to host San Luis of Mexico on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or via cdchivasusa.com. A full schedule of SuperLiga matches available at cdchivasusa.com.

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 23, complete with special features and commentaries on Chivas USA. Tune in this Saturday for your 'Somos Chivas USA!'

GUADALAJARA UPDATE: VACATION UNTIL JUNE 1: Chivas de Guadalajara's Clausura 2009 has come to a close, and the team is currently on a break until June 1, when the players will report for Apertura 2009 preseason. More information on Chivas de Guadalajara can be found at the club's official website, http://www.chivascampeon.com/.

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 10 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!

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 18, 2009


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