Con apenas unas horas de descanso tras el juego del sábado por la noche, los jugadores de Chivas USA se levantaron muy temprano en la mañana para abordar un avión rumbo a la Ciudad de Panamá, lugar donde nacerá a partir del próximo martes la ilusión de la CONCACAF Liga Campeones. El Rebaño enfrentará al Tauro F.C. de Panamá en el partido de ida de la Ronda Preliminar del mencionado torneo. Ocho días después, Chivas USA recibirá la visita del cuadro panameño en El Home Depot Center de Carson, para definir un cupo a la Fase de Grupos del torneo.Con mínimo conocimiento del poderío de su próximo rival y de las condiciones en las que se enfrentarán, como clima y condiciones de la cancha, los jugadores de Chivas USA aceptaron saber poco o nada de su rival caribeño.
“No sabemos mucho del oponente, pero vamos a ir ahí para ganar… estamos muy emocionados. Aunque estemos aquí tan temprano. Es un día muy largo de viaje pero esperemos descansar una vez que estemos ahí y entrenar mañana”, expresó el defensa Bobby Burling, uno de los elementos más jóvenes del cuadro rojiblanco.
“Estaba hablando con muchos de los muchachos y nadie sabe nada de ellos, pero creo que va ser interesante y emocionante”, añadió Burling.
Después de empatar a cero tantos ante los Terremotos de San José el sábado por la noche, Chivas USA debutará el martes en el Estadio Rod Carew de la Ciudad de Panamá a partir de las 5:00 p.m. Hora del Pacífico (En vivo por Galavisión, diferido a las 7:00 p.m. PT en FSC). El martes, 2 de septiembre, los Rojiblancos serán los anfitriones de Tauro F.C. en el Home Depot Center a partir de las 7:00 p.m Hora del Pacífico.
“No. No conozco a ninguno de sus jugadores, tampoco conozco su estilo de juego”, reconoció el también defensa Lawson Vaughn, quien después de estar ausente en el partido del sábado por la noche ante los Terremotos de San José, emprendió el viaje y es uno de los regresos esperados ante Tauro F.C., junto con el delantero Alecko Eskandarian.El estadio panameño es también otra interrogante para el Cuerpo Técnico y jugadores, pues lo único que se sabe es que hubo un concierto el sábado pasado en el estadio (de béisbol) y las condiciones del césped no serían las ideales.
Otros, como el mismo Jorge Flores, quien regresó al equipo titular el sábado ante San José, señalaron que Panamá será una aventura, pues para muchos será terreno desconocido.
“Nunca he conocido Panamá, hasta que lo voy a conocer y que mejor que ir a jugar futbol”, declaró Flores.
Chivas USA travels to PanamaRed-and-White prepares to face Tauro F.C. in the Preliminary Round on Tuesday
Chivas USA players and Coaching Staff traveled early Sunday morning to Panama City, where they will face Tauro F.C. on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. PT (Live on Galavision, 7:00 p.m. tape delayed on FSC) as part of the CONCACAF Champions League’s Preliminary Round.
Chivas USA played the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night and with very little time to sleep, players had to take a plane to Panama to face an unknown opponent.
“I don’t know much about the opponent we are playing but going down there, we are looking for the win obviously. I think everybody is excited, despite how early we are here… we want to win the trophy, we want to advance”, said Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling.
“I was talking to a couple of the guys and nobody knew much about Tauro, it’s going to be interesting and we are excited”, he added.
“I think it’s a cool experience to travel to Panama. I’ve never been there. I was thinking about a minute ago about adding another country to the list where I’ve been to”, said Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn.
“I have no idea about this team or any of their players. I don’t even know their style of play in Panama. It should be a good test for us… the intensity of play is different and it helps us to raise our level of play where we need to play at… it helps us mentally”, he added.
Regional bragging rights are on the line as Chivas USA looks to advance to the Group Stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, which pits the best teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean against each other for a spot in the 2009 FIFA Club Word Cup.
The decisive return leg of the two-game series against Tauro F.C. is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. Tickets start at just $15 and parking is free for fans in attendance. For tickets or more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/, the official website of Chivas USA .
Chivas USA players and Coaching Staff traveled early Sunday morning to Panama City, where they will face Tauro F.C. on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. PT (Live on Galavision, 7:00 p.m. tape delayed on FSC) as part of the CONCACAF Champions League’s Preliminary Round.
Chivas USA played the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night and with very little time to sleep, players had to take a plane to Panama to face an unknown opponent.
“I don’t know much about the opponent we are playing but going down there, we are looking for the win obviously. I think everybody is excited, despite how early we are here… we want to win the trophy, we want to advance”, said Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling.
“I was talking to a couple of the guys and nobody knew much about Tauro, it’s going to be interesting and we are excited”, he added.
“I think it’s a cool experience to travel to Panama. I’ve never been there. I was thinking about a minute ago about adding another country to the list where I’ve been to”, said Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn.
“I have no idea about this team or any of their players. I don’t even know their style of play in Panama. It should be a good test for us… the intensity of play is different and it helps us to raise our level of play where we need to play at… it helps us mentally”, he added.
Regional bragging rights are on the line as Chivas USA looks to advance to the Group Stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, which pits the best teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean against each other for a spot in the 2009 FIFA Club Word Cup.
The decisive return leg of the two-game series against Tauro F.C. is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. Tickets start at just $15 and parking is free for fans in attendance. For tickets or more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/, the official website of Chivas USA .
