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Fondy Excited After Chivas Debut, Ready for More

September 5, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


Recently acquired forward Matthew Fondy says he would be lying if he said butterflies were not running through him when he stepped onto the pitch in Wednesday's match against Seattle Sounders FC in his Major League Soccer debut. The Northern California native was signed from USL-PRO side the LA Blues on Aug. 30 and came on as a sub in the 60th minute in front of a crowd of nearly 40,000 at CenturyLink Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the series finally, Chivas USA Head Coach Jose Luis Real looked to his bench for a needed spark in the attacking third. By the time the six-foot-one forward entered the match, the Rojiblancos had gradually begun to shift the match's momentum in their favor and generate solid looks at equalizing.

In the 68th minute, Fondy had his first attempt at goal off a free kick sent in by Edgar Mejia from long range into the box, but Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning was able to secure the threat. Fondy had another dangerous look at the game off a corner kick, but the forward pushed his header wide left of the post, as the Red-and-White would go on to fall 1-0.

Despite coming up short in the second leg of the two-game road trip in the Pacific Northwest, the 24-year-old UC Santa Cruz product was excited to get the opportunity to log his first minutes with his new club.

"It feels amazing," Fondy said after the match. "It's been a lot of hard work. In front of a crowd like that it's really humbling. I'm honored. There were definitely nerves - I'd be lying if I told you there wasn't. I feel like I'm ready to play at any level.

"I thought we had some good chances. I had a header on a corner that I wish I would have done better with. We were definitely pressing [Seattle] and I think we can run with any team when we're on."

After spending the previous two seasons with the Blues, and a brief stint in the San Jose Earthquakes' camp, Fondy is confident that he can contribute at this level and is hungry to work for more opportunities on the pitch.

"I'm more than ready. Just being out there [Wednesday] in front of that type of crowd I just felt like I belonged. It wasn't really nerves, more like excitement. I think I can bring energy. I'm a bigger forward. We have technical forwards who are great finishers so I can add a presence up top."

Real and the rest of the squad have been very welcoming, the striker says, which has made the transition from Blues to Red-and-White an exciting one. The NoCal native will possibly get his first taste at home when the Rojiblancos host Eastern Conference side D.C. United this Sunday at the StubHub Center beginning at 6 p.m. (PT).

"It's a great group of guys. I don't think they're where they want to be in the standings. But everyone has a great attitude and everyone works hard. They respect the coaching staff and I enjoy it," he concluded.

Real satisfied with Chivas' second half

Chivas USA were looking to end their tour through the Pacific Northwest with a victory against Seattle Sounders FC. But things did not go in favor of the team led by Jose Luis Real after falling 1-0 to the Sounders at Century Link Field. A goal in the 24th minute, an error on behalf of the Red-and-White defense, caused the team its first complete three points in three games.

Chivas USA began the match trying to get used to the rowdy stadium and the turf field, which help the Sounders have a higher possession in the first half, taking a total of seven shots on goal over Chivas' four.

"I think in the first half, Seattle were better and Chivas, in the second half, were better," Real said after the game. "I'm happy with the development of Chivas USA, especially in the second half."

In the second half, Chivas USA were much more superior to the home team, taking a total of nine shots over Seattle's four. One of the reasons behind the Red-and-White's attack was the debut of recently acquired forward Matt Fondy, who came onto the match to replace Carlos Alvarez and kept the rival's defenders awake.

"He's excellent, he's a new player, he's young, and he's strong. It was his first game, his first minutes, but he did very well and he's a very good player," Real said about Fondy.

Chivas USA will return to Los Angeles this Thursday, September 5 ahead of their third match in seven days. The Red-and-White will host D.C. United in a conference match-up this Sunday, Sept. 8 at the StubHub Center.

"It's not easy to have many games because at the second or third game, the players are tired. But it's one of the youngest teams in the league and I'm sure they're going to be good," Real finalized.

Follow the club's latest news and updates by visiting us on Twitter: @cdchivasusa .

Burling: it's disappointing that we couldn't escape with a point

A new attitude and strategy are what Chivas USA have been displaying during the past games. The last two results for the Red-and-White haven't been the best reflection of the team's performance, but now that they have been led by Jose Luis Real for more than 14 games the team plays with a new perspective.

On Wednesday's game against Seattle Sounders FC, Chivas USA fell 1-0, after having a second half full of solid looks at finding the equalizer. Defender Bobby Burling knows that this team is giving it all on the field but the goal didn't come tonight.

"In this season we had some ups and downs, nothing has been easy for us," Burling said. "But I think we came out a little flat on the first half, maybe the tired legs from the previous game or maybe a little from the letdown that Vancouver tied us over, but I think the guys came out and put a full shift and battle, specially on the second half we had the chance to tie."

On the first game of this Pacific Northwest tour, Chivas USA took an early lead against Vancouver Whitecaps FC with two goals from Erick Torres, but the -Caps came back on the second half and tied in the 93rd minute, leaving the two teams with one point each. Things were different on their match against the Sounders, who took the lead in the first half and held off the Goat's comeback effort to end 1-0.

"For us it's disappointing that we couldn't escape with a point, at the end we tried to steal one like Vancouver did to us," said Burling.

After ending the two game road trip with one lose and a tie, Chivas USA will return home this Thursday to prepare for D.C. United who they will host on Sunday, Sept. 8, starting at 6 p.m. (PT) at the StubHub Center. The match will be televised in English on KDOC and in Spanish on MundoFOX 22 KWHY and can also be heard in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM. Burling knows that this Sunday is a good opportunity to recover from the last game.

"We are just trying to improve each week. Our team is young, and hopefully getting this experience can build some momentum for next year and finish strong this year," Burling concluded.

Back at home, D.C. United await

Chivas USA returned to Los Angeles on Thursday morning after their tour around the Pacific Northwest which resulted in a 2-2 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Sunday, and a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC three nights later.

Despite seeing two points against Vancouver slip out their hands, the 20-year-old forward acquired during the Summer Transfer Window, Erick Torres, knew how to entertain the fans present at BC Place and watching on TV with his bicycle kick that is now nominated for Major League Soccer AT&T Goal of the Week.

Wednesday's game against Seattle also brought good news to the Red-and-White as their latest signing Matthew Fondy - former LA Blues forward - made his professional debut. With the arrival on the pitch of the UC Santa Cruz graduate in the 60th minute, there was a noticeable change of rhythm and a higher energy level in the attacking third, but the attempts weren't enough to consolidate the turnaround or at least the tie.

Upon their arrival in Los Angeles, the Rojiblancos will have three days to prep up for their third game in eight days as they host Eastern Conference side D.C. United. After their last game at the StubHub Center, Chivas USA now have a very important task as they were able to surprise the League on Aug. 25. Two goals by "Cubo" Torres and Julio Morales' first professional goal were the key to the bewilderment of then-Eastern Conference leader, the New York Red Bulls, who left Southern California with empty hands and a 3-2 result against them.

The great deed accomplished against the New York side, and the performance that followed that game against Vancouver are the result of the hard work done by each individual in the Red-and-White locker room, from the latest signings to Head Coach Jose Luis Real. The progress made in the soccer development on the field along with the team's cohesion and the confidence reigning in the locker will be the Rojiblancos' allies when fighting for those three points against the U.S. capital's team.

You can already buy your tickets for the Sunday, Sept. 8 match by going to Chivas USA official website. If you can't attend the game, make sure to follow your favorite team on TV in English on KDOC-TV and in Spanish on MundoFOX22 starting at 6 p.m. (PT). Radio listeners will also be able to follow the game against D.C. United by tuning in to W Radio 690 AM.

Chivas USA host regenerative session

Upon hours of landing in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, Chivas USA returned to the StubHub Center not just to drop off their bags, but to hold a short regenerative session after playing two games in four days.

The short 20-minute session began just minutes before 1 p.m. (PT) when Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho began the regenerative session with a few stretching exercises to recover the player's muscles after Wednesday night's match against Seattle Sounders FC. Following the stretches, the team then preceded onto a light walk and a jog around the field for around five minutes.

Around 1:20 p.m. (PT), Chivas USA called it a day with a few light stretches. The Red-and-White will return to regular training sessions on Friday, Sept. 6 at 9:30 a.m. (PT) at the StubHub Center's Field 6. For all the latest news and updates, follow Chivas USA on Twitter: @cdchivasusa.

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