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Padilla lifts Red-and-White to first win

April 10, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


Chivas USA captured its first victory under Head Coach Martín Vásquez with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon at The Home Depot Center. Jesús Padilla was the start for the Red-and-White, forcing an own goal just after halftime before scoring his first of the season in second half injury time.

The Red-and-White fielded a new-look lineup, featuring Zach Thornton in goal for the first time in 2010, recently signed defender Darío Delgado making his MLS debut at center back alongside fellow Costa Rican National Teamer Michael Umaña, and Los Alamitos' Jonathan Bornstein lining up at left midfield.

Defender Ante Jazic was forced to leave the match due to a mild right knee strain in the 39th minute, and Padilla entered the match at left midfield, moving Bornstein back to left back. Just after halftime, Padilla helped Chivas USA gain the lead when his shot bounced off the post before New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul knocked it into his own net.

Though Chivas USA out-shot the Red Bulls 15-11 (and 4-1 in shots on goal), the game remained tight until the last minute of injury time. A Zach Thornton goal kick went long and led Padilla in on a breakaway, and his low shot beat Coundoul to ice the match. Thornton earned an assist, the fourth of his career.

The shutout was also the first of the season for the Chivas USA defense, and the 71st of Thornton's career, which puts the veteran in second place in MLS history, behind Kevin Hartman (84). Central defenders Michael Umaña and Darío Delgado lined up in central defense, and the Costa Rican duo kept dangerous forwards Macoumba Kandji and Juan Pablo Angel at bay.

Forward and Fontana native Chukwudi Chijindu had a strong 90 minute performance at forward, making his first start of 2010, and rookie Blair Gavin played 90 minutes in central midfield for the second straight match. Maykel Galindo entered as a sub in the 58th minute, but was forced to leave 19 minutes later after taking a knock to his lower left leg.

Chivas USA Head Coach Martín Vásquez, on today's match: "The most important thing was the win. There [are] a lot of things that we have to fix, and they're fixable, but I'm very proud of my team and how they responded after those first two games." A full series of quotes from Vásquez, as well as soundbytes from Sacha Kljestan, Chukwudi Chijindu, Jonathan Bornstein, Darío Delgado, and Jesús Padilla, are available on Dentro del Rebaño (‘Inside the Flock'), the official blog of Chivas USA.

The Red-and-White have Sunday off before returning to the training field on Monday at 10:30 a.m., and will train at 10:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at 9:30 on Thursday, all on Field 6 at The Home Depot Center. Chivas USA departs for Houston on Thursday, and faces the Dynamo next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. CT) in the team's first match outside of L.A. this season. The game will be broadcast live on Prime Ticket, TeleFutura, and W Radio 690 AM.



Major League Soccer Stories from April 10, 2010


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