Jorge Campos y Luis Hernández
Originally uploaded by Javier Armas Ante el buen partido que acaba de terminar entre Estados Unidos y México en el estadio Reliant, no queda mas que agradecer a
Don Fútbol que subió este vídeo con los 10 mejores goles entre estos dos equipos. Lejos esta la supremacía azteca como cuando jugaba Jorge Campos y Luis Hernandez y atrás en la foto Claudio Suarez,
El pájaro Hernandez como le llamaban en Argentina al veracruzano goleador aparece en esta lista.

Hoy hace 15 años, se jugaba la gran final de la copa América en Ecuador 1993. México contra Argentina
México era un invitado y seria su primera participación, pocos, muy pocos pensarían en que el tricolor nacional llegaría hasta las instancias de la gran final.
La prensa mexicana antes de esta competición llamaba a los jugadores de la selección los ratones verdes, pero gracias a esta gran participación nunca mas seria utilizado.

Green and white versus red and white! Let's go to it. The stadium isn't full by far, but the crowd is lively.
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy, Jim Curtin, Carey Tallye, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Mendoza, Sacha Kljestan, Paulo Nagamura, Kraig Chiles, Roberto Nurse, Atiba Harris
Santos: Oswaldo Sanchez, Jorge Estrada, Rafael Figueroa, Osmar Mares, Fernando Ortiz, Edgar Castillo, Johnnie Garcia, Fernando Arce, Francisco Torres, Vicente Vuoso, Christian Benitez
Kickoff!

All sorts of changes tonight for Chivas USA including Dan Kennedy in goal, Claudio Suarez on the bench, Mexican Roberto Nurse making his debut up front and young Kraig Chiles getting a rare start (likely as a withdrawn forward).

The Chivas USA lineup: Kennedy, Jim Curtin, Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Mendoza, Sacha Kljestan, Paulo Nagamura, Chiles, Nurse and Atiba Harris.

Five changes for the Galaxy this evening after last week's loss to New England and no wins in the last three games.

Most fans will undoubtedly be pleased to know that even with an ankle injury to central defender Sean Franklin that was announced Wednesday the hapless Abel Xavier is nowhere to be seen.

ChivaGirls ready to suit up against Houston Dynamo if needed!

Chivas USA take on the Dynamo Wednesday night. Well, half of the Chivas USA will take on the Dynamo while the other half remain on the injury list. Lets do the math.

28 Full squad
-11 Injured
-1 International Duty
_____
16

Sixteen players are healthy and available for the matchup.

NPR is in the building this evening preparing a story on Jorge Flores and tabbed your truly for a quick interview, so I'm a little late with the lineups.

The night's important numbers: the Wizards have won just once on the road this season and and Colorado's 5-4 win over the Red Bulls earlier today means Chivas USA is third in the table and seven points behind Western Conference leaders Houston, which drew 1-1 with Toronto.

As readers of this blog learned Wednesday from beat writer Scott Wolf, neither David Beckham (sore hamstring) or Landon Donovan (flu) practiced with the team yesterday and could miss tonight's game against the New England Revolution, who will have Taylor Twellman on the bench.

So possibly no stars for the Galaxy, but there will be fireworks after the game.

How about them Wizards?
Anyway, the injury of Sean Franklin means the Galaxy have had to scramble to replace him. He's been their most consistent defender, rookie or no.
So who replaces him? Greg Vanney or Troy Roberts? The short answer is that both players are in the starting lineup.
Galaxy: Cronie, Kleiny, Troy, Vanney, Ante, Ely, Becks, Pete, Willie, Eddie, LD
Chivas USA: Guzano, Talley, Shavar, Jonny, 'Tiba, Sach, Jesse, Nags, Panchito, 'Te.

As the SuperLiga returns, one club in particular has a lot at stake. Billy Witz looks at all the reasons why this competition means more to Chivas USA. So much so, in fact, that Claudio Suarez was held out against the Galaxy so he could be fresh for this tournament.

An event-filled opening 45 minutes saw Chivas USA blow a lead, squander a penalty kick and come in at the half trailing 2-1.

Chivas could and probably should have been up 2-0 in the first 10 minutes, with Sacha Klejstan hitting the bar from 16 yards, wasting a fine Jonathan Bornstein run, who split the Pachuca defense after intercepting a lazy clearance.

Chivas USA take on the Wizards this weekend.

Chivas USA have been struggling to fill the line up, dealing with injuries and suspensions.

There are two people that are considered out for the game, probably the lowest in the season. Raphael Wicky and Alex Zotinca will not be available for the game.

Ah, the Home Depot Center - acres of athletic facilities, a number of sporting personalities, and one frazzled me, trying to get stuff for stories.
I ran from the Galaxy's practice field to try to catch Claudio Suarez before he left with his teammates on a bus to the airport. I waited by the front entrance of the complex as various Chivas USA players walked by from the practice field.

Nothing like a healthy hatred for Cuauhtemoc Blanco to bring out the Chivas USA fans.

A crowd in the low 20,000 range is expected tonight, which would be the biggest crowd for Chivas USA so far this year.

Brad Guzan has returned in goal for Chivas USA (4-6-2) from international duty, relegating backup Dan Kennedy to the bench.

Thursday's game against the LA Galaxy is just one of a string of big games Chivas USA will have in the coming days. On Sunday, Chivas USA will play Pachuca in the SuperLiga opener for both teams. Then, Santos will visit on Wednesday followed by a match against New England on July 20.
That's four games in 11 days.

The MLS All-Star Game XI (and actually another seven to round out the roster) will be picked at 8 a.m. Thursday from Toronto, site of the 4 p.m. July 24 game against East London's West Ham United of the English Premier League.

Coaches and general managers, fans, players, and media each had 25 percent of the vote to select the starting line-up.

Andrea is absent from tonight's match so I'll try and hold the fort down in her absence.
Pachuca won SuperLiga right here in this building a year ago, topping the LA Galaxy in PKs. But, los Tuzos also lost a game right here to the same Galaxy squad, dropping a 2-1 result in the tournament opener.

Chivas USA plays its first ever competitive international game tonight against SuperLiga and CONCACAF Champions Cup title holders Pachuca.

So it's a hell of a time for goalkeeper Lance Parker (Missouri State) to make his professional debut. Parker is favored over presumed starter Dan Kennedy with Brad Guzan headed to England's Aston Villa.

Welcome to the beautiful Titan Stadium for tonight's SuperLiga (and I use the word beautiful loosely). I tried to get pictures of both teams before the match but only New England gathered for a team shot. Perhaps Chivas players were too focused on the game...
Here are the starting lineups:
Chivas: Dan Kennedy; Carey Talley, Claudio Suarez, Bobby Burling, Francisco Mendoza; Sacha Kljestan, Daniel Paladini, Jesse Marsch, Jonathan Bornstein; Ante Razov, Roberto Nurse.

Tomorrow night we get a rematch of last years first round playoff game between the Wizards and Chivas USA. Like last year, Chivas will be without a few of their first team players. Both Ante Razov and Claudio Suarez are questionable for the game with injuries. Sacha Kljestan will also miss the game for the Goats, as he's in China for the Olympics.

Five changes for Chivas USA tonight with a Tuesday CONCACAF preliminary round game looming Tuesday in Panama as Coach Preki tries to rest some starters, while defender Cary Talley is the latest to join a long injury list with a thigh strain. Six players are still out including striker Maykel Galindo

Zach Thornton is in goal, while Jim Curtin replaces Claudio Suarez as the long defensive change.

First off, the Galaxy has just drawn 2-2 with the New England Revolution, Landon Donovan getting both goals.

Sean Franklin and Troy Roberts started in the center of defense with Eddie Lewis on the left wing, by the way.

More on that game later, but for now....

Chivas USA has Zach Thornton in goal as usual, Lawson Vaughn is at right back, Jonathan Bornstein on the left and Bobby Burling and Jim Curtin in the middle.

The second leg of matches in the CONCACAF Champions League kicks off tonight, with the headline being two MLS teams fighting for their tournament lives against lesser-known opponents.
The New England Revolution welcome Joe Public FC, the Jamaican side that advanced to the tournament by way of their runner-up finish in the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship in 2007.

Rating: 4 (Good)
According to this article out of Mexico City on 20 March 2008, the MLS 2008 season is "finally the last" for Chivas USA's veteran defender and former Mexican international, Claudio Suarez. Following the season, he will play two "farewell games" in December, one with the Los Angeles-based Chivas USA and one with CD Guadalajara.

A bunch of Characters I tell you.

Preki for President!!

My money is on Holland or Portugal.

Now, to more important matters.

No Maykel, he went in for surgery again. Big loss.

Some usuals may be coming back, including Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Raphael Wicky, Jonathan Bornstein, and Lawson Vaughn.

A curious line-up this evening for Chivas USA Coach Preki.

Dan Kennedy makes his MLS debut in goal, while Sacha Kljestan also starts.

Does that mean Brad Guzan starts in goal Sunday for the U.S. against Barbados instead of Tim Howard? Does it also mean Kljestan won't even dress tomorrow for the World Cup qualifier?

Suarez' miss from the penalty spot.

Photo by Scott Varley

Game story.

Box score.

Here's Claudio Suarez on missing the first half penalty kick:

"I feel bad for having missed it because it influenced the result. If I'd put it in it would have changed the game.

Roberto Nurse is signed, sealed and delivered. All the necessary paperwork is complete and Nurse will be available for selection for Chivas USA tonight against Santos, a source told me.
Nurse has been training with the team for several weeks now and impressed the coaching staff, who somehow were able to find a way to keep him on the roster.

Five changes to the Chivas USA starting lineup from the team that faced Santos Laguna Wednesday (or as one press box observer said, the A team is back).

Dan Kennedy is in goal, while Claudio Suarez and Bobby Burling return in central defense, Cary Talley is at right back and Pancho Mendoza at left back (although he and left half Jonathan Bornstein have been switching off in recent games and presumably could again).

First off, the U.S. Women defeated Japan 1-0 overnight at the Olympics.

USC's Amy Rodriguez got her surprise first start of the Olympics over Natasha Kai. Here's Coach Pia Sundhage on why she made the move:

"The reason for A-Rod instead of Kai was her speed. That was crucial when we looked at the way Japan plays.

When Claudio Suarez explained that his father was a big baseball fan and really admired Fernando Valenzuela, the Dodger public relations people arranged an introduction.
I ran into Claudio afterwards and asked to see his souvenir. He showed it to me and explained that Fernando signed it to his father, Vicente which meant a lot to him.

Unless something drastic changes, there is quite a bit of talent and experience that will be absent for Chivas USA against the Galaxy on Thursday.
Now, that doesn't mean that the club will field a reserve team or anything but there are concerns over certain aspects of Chivas USA's potential lineup.

The injury list for Chivas USA grows longer as Jesse Marsch was ruled out 6-8 weeks with a fractured jaw.
Others such as Claudio Suarez and Jonathan Bornstein may be ready by next week's match against San Jose, but Marsch won't be one of them. In fact, the 6-8 week range puts him as possibly returning by late September, best-case scenario.

Chivas USA will host a critical match against Tauro FC tonight. Chivas USA needs to win by two goals in order to have any hopes of advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League.
Here is audio of my post-game chat with Jonathan Bornstein about the game.
Acutally, it's a bit more complicated than just winning by two.

MLS officials were unable to persuade Chicago Fire star Cuauhtémoc Blanco to speak at a press conference (or anything else for that matter) to take advantage of the post-Lakers hangover, so the nationally televised 7:30 p.m. game Thursday against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center will come in with a whimper rather than a snarl.

What's the deal? Is this the same team that just lost to RSL at home? Is Chicago not as good as they say, or is RSL getting better? Is Chivas USA finding their form?

This season has been a rollercoaster for the Red and White. Most of their problems stem from injuries which equates to inconsistent line ups.

It's the ( 5-4-4) Red Bulls against (5-6-2) Chivas USA on a lovely night for soccer at Victoria Street.

Chivas USA Coach Preki has named a 3-4-3 formation, although indications are we'll see a 4-4-2 with Jonathan Bornstein (who is listed as a forward) actually playing at left back.

Brad Guzan is in goal as usual, while Jim Curtin is presumably drafted into the middle of defense alongside Claudio Suarez, leaving Bobby Burling at right back.

Sorry this is late. I couldn't find the TV channel for this at first.
"Andrea, why aren't you at the game?"
1. Gas is expensive.
2. I have no assignment to cover this match.
So TV running blog it is.
NY - Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite, Hunter Freeman, Carlos Mendes, Seth Stammler, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Dave van den Bergh, John Wolyniec, Dane Richards, Andrew Boyens, Jeff Parke
Chivas USA: Brad Guzan (GK), Claudio Suarez, Jim Curtin, Francisco Mendoza, Ante Razov, Carey Talley, Jonathan Bornstein, Bobby Burling, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun
15 - I love the matches in Spanish - the announcers usually sound much more serious about the game.

Chivas USA (5-6-3) can jump from sixth to tied for first in the Western Conference with the Galaxy if they manage to beat the worst team in MLS, the San Jose Earthquakes (3-8-3), who have one goal in the last four games while going 0-2-2.

Coach Preki makes three changes to the team that drew 1-1 last week with the Red Bulls.

Since I spent most of the time in the locker room interviewing Claudio Suarez and Panchito Mendoza - the team's two Mexicans - about next Sunday's SuperLiga opener against Pachuca for Tuesday's column, my opportunities to get quotes about tonight's game were limited.

Still, there weren't many talking points anyway.