Chivas USA draws 2-2 with Houston Dynamo in final scrimmage before March 21 season opener

Chivas USA battled on Friday night to a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo in a preseason scrimmage played in the Main Stadium at The Home Depot Center. It was the Red-and-White’s final tune-up before next Saturday’s season opener against the Colorado Rapids, and goals from Atiba Harris and Shavar Thomas earned the tie for Chivas USA.

The Red-and-White dominated the first half of the match, with the forward pairing of Justin Braun and Eduardo Lillingston, the team’s most recent addition, forcing Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad into several good saves. Chivas USA finally broke through just before halftime, when Braun carried the ball into the final third before passing to right midfielder Atiba Harris, who slotted a low, left-footed shot to the far post to give the Red-and-White the 1-0 lead.

The Dynamo tied the match less than a minute after halftime, when substitute Chris Wondolowski hit what looked to be a cross before it floated into the net over goalkeeper Zach Thornton. The Red-and-White regained the lead in the 63rd minute when Shavar Thomas headed in a Carey Talley corner kick. Houston evened the match a second time in minute 76 when Brad Davis hammered in a free kick from 20 yards after a Thomas foul just outside the box.

Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark was sent off in the 77th minute for a foul on Paulo Nagamura that cleared both benches. Matters calmed quickly and both coaches agreed to allow a substitution, with Corey Ashe entering the match for Clark in the 80th minute. With the draw, Chivas USA finishes with a preseason record of 4-3-2 (W-L-T); a full preseason schedule for the team, as well as lineups and statistics from today’s match, can be found below.

Chivas USA kicks off its fifth campaign in Major League Soccer when it hosts the Colorado Rapids in an Opening Day match on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For more information on Chivas USA season tickets, as well as the unbeatable All-Star five-game pack (starting at just $50), please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.


PHOTOS: Juan Miranda/Chivas USA

Chivas USA vs. Houston tonight! Chivas USA ante el Dynamo esta noche!

Chivas USA will hold its final scrimmage of the 2009 preseason in Carson tonight at 7:00 p.m. PT when the Red-and-White take on the Houston Dynamo ‘under the lights’ at The Home Depot Center’s Main Stadium...

Chivas USA sostendrá el último partido de la pretemporada esta noche a las 7:00 p.m. Hora del Pacífico bajo las luces del Estadio Principal de El Home Depot Center ante el Dynamo de Houston.

Chivas USA at Soccer Nation Expo 2009

Watch Fox Soccer Channel's report on the recent Soccer Nation Expo 2009 that took place in downtown Los Angeles. Chivas USA's Justin Braun, Alecko Eskandarian, as well as the ChivaFighter, were present at the event.



Chivas USA kicks off its fifth campaign in Major League Soccer when it hosts the Colorado Rapids in an Opening Day match on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For more information on Chivas USA season tickets, as well as the unbeatable All-Star five-game pack (starting at just $50), please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

Jorge Flores, U.S. U-20's Update

Jorge Flores played in the United States Under-20 National Team's 2-0 win over El Salvador on Tuesday, which booked the team a spot in the FIFA U-20 World Cup which takes place in September and October in Egypt.

The win was in the third and final group stage match, and now the team moves on to the semifinals, where the U.S. will face the hosts, Trinidad & Tobago, on Friday at 8:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. PT). Unfortunately, Jorge won't be able to play in the match, since he received a red card in the 84th minute of the match against El Salvador.

On the U.S. Youth National Teams blog, Jorge gave his thoughts on playing a new position (left back, where he has occasionally trained with Chivas USA, especially during preseason a year ago), and also on the red card that he was given at the end of the match.

Here are the highlights:

On the new spot:
"I will play wherever the coaches want me to, whether that's at left back or left midfield. I will do my best wherever I am because that's where the team needs me. I think I did well and it felt good. I think the back four did a good job because they weren't able to get through us and I don't think I let my attacker get by me on the wing."

On his red card:
"The player was antagonizing me, he was pinching me as we were going up the field and talking trash. I kind of threw up my arm to get him off of me and he threw up his arms and took a couple of steps backwards. I did touch him, but I think the assistant referee thought I tried to elbow him."

You can follow Friday's match on the USSoccer.com Matchtracker, starting at 5:00 p.m. PT tomorrow. The third-place match and the final will both be played on Sunday, and Flores will be eligible to play in the team's match on that day.

'Panchito' recuerda a Chivas USA desde Guadalajara

El 11 de marzo de 2009, el último jugador en salir de la primera generación de Chivas USA, Francisco Mendoza, finalizó su primer encuentro oficial como titular para el equipo hermano, Chivas de Guadalajara, en la victoria de 1-0 ante Caracas F.C. como parte de la Copa Libertadores de América 2009. Desde Guadalajara, "Panchito" recuerda el equipo que lo dio a conocer, sus amigos, recuerdos y por último, sus deseos para el equipo del Rebaño Angelino en la próxima campaña 2009 de la MLS. Vea el video aquí:

Chivas USA firma a Eduardo Lillingston

Chivas USA anunció hoy la firma del delantero mexicano Eduardo Lillingston, un experimentado atacante con 12 años en la Primera División de México, para la temporada 2009 de la MLS. El originario de Guadalajara, de 31 años de edad, ha entrenado con Chivas USA desde la pretemporada del club realizada en Guadalajara a medianos de febrero.

Escuche aquí lo que Lillingston tuvo que decir tras conocer su contratación con el equipo.

El experimentado jugador de la Primera División en México jugó para el Toluca, Santos y más recientemente Tecos de la UAG. Lillingston podría hacer su debut con Chivas USA el próximo sábado, 21 de marzo, ante los Rapids de Colorado en El Home Depot Center, dependiendo de la aprobación de su Certificado de Transferencia Internacional (ITC) y su visa de trabajo.

En otras noticias:

Jorge Flores jugó en el tercer y último partido de la Sub-20 de Estados Unidos en la fase de grupos del Premundial de la CONCACAF. El resultado de 2-0 favorable para los Estados Unidos sobre El Salvador permitió clasificar al seleccionado nacional al Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA 2009. Flores jugó 84 minutos antes de ser expulsado.

El seleccionado durante el SuperDraft 2009 de la MLS, Jamie Franks, dejó de ser parte del campamento de pretemporada de Chivas USA el día de ayer.

PHOTO: Juan Miranda/Chivas USA

Chivas USA signs Mexican forward Eduardo Lillingston (& other notes)

Chivas USA today announched the signing of Mexican forward Eduardo Lillingston, who has been training with Chivas USA since the club’s preseason trip to Guadalajara in mid-February.

The 31-year-old is a 12-year veteran of the Mexican First Division, having appeared in 258 Mexican First Division matches, (118 starts), accumulating 11,198 minutes and recording 57 goals. He was a member of Toluca’s Verano 1998 and Invierno 2000 championship sides, and played and scored in Tecos’ Final appearance versus Club América (Clausura 2005).

Click here to listen to a brief interview with the new signing (in Spanish). Here are some of his translated answers:

Dentro del Rebaño: How do you feel now that you’re officially a member of the team?

Eduardo Lillingston: I’m very happy to remain here with Chivas USA, and happy to be with this group. I want to give my very best in MLS, for the fans, the team, and those who have given me this opportunity.

DdR: Had you ever thought you might play in MLS?

EL: The thought of playing for Chivas USA first crossed my mind about three or four years ago, but I didn’t think much about it because I was focused on Tecos [UAG, of the Mexican First Division]. Recently I thought about it again, and I got in touch with the staff of Chivas in Mexico, and I liked the idea. Now that I’m here, I’m very happy.

DdR: You’ve been practicing with the team a while now – what has that been like?

EL: It’s been difficult, because I haven’t been working this hard in a year, as I was trying to recover from an injury. I’ve been trying to give everything I had to earn a spot, and I was thrilled to get the news [that they wanted to sign me].

DdR: How have your teammates been treating you?

EL: Very well, they’ve treated me very well. I know a little English and that’s helped things along a little bit, and I’m adapting to these new circumstances. It’s a strong league, where you have to be strong, and fast too, and you’re not given much space on the field. But it’s great to have this new challenge.

Other notes from Chivas USA today:

• Jorge Flores helped the United States Under-20 National Team qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup last night as the U.S. defeated El Salvador 2-0 last night in CONCACAF Qualifying. The full story can be found at USSoccer.com; Flores started the match and played 84 minutes at left back before receiving a red card in the 84th minute for an off-the-ball foul that occured when Flores got tangled up with an El Salvador player. The USYNT Blog may post an interview with Jorge tonight - we will link if and when they do.


• Also, midfielder Jamie Franks, who was the Red-and-White's 4th round draft pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, has left preseason camp as of yesterday.