Chivas USA hasn't had too much to celebrate, now comes the dreaded expansion draft. (Getty
Images)
Chivas USA had an up and down 2011. Their season looked promising at times but injuries piled up
and issues with scoring took this team over. First year manager Robin Fraser did a decent job this
year but will have the fun task of going through the roster to figure out who stays and who will be
left available for next month's expansion draft.
Chivas USA 1 Toronto 0
Juan Pablo Angel scored his sixth goal in five games for Chivas USA in the 12th minute, heading
home an Ante Jazic cross from seven yards after Justin Braun picked up a loose ball in the Toronto
half.
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It took me just 30 minutes to get from my Torrance driveway to my press box seat tonight at Home
Depot Center where a rather subdued atmosphere has greeted two struggling teams.
I hate to admit it, but I was at a conference on Saturday and was left to follow the Seattle
Sounders-Chivas USA match via Twitter. I've now watched the highlights (and promise to watch the
full game) and can safely say that the frustration I felt while not watching the game would have
probably been even worse if I had watched.
*Chivas USA wilted in the Texas heat today and lost to FC Dallas for their first loss in their
last five games. Dallas play the Galaxy next weekend in Carson.
Quotable:
"It was possibly the hottest game I have been a part of in MLS, so it was difficult for
both teams," Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser said.
When the summer transfer window opened for Major League Soccer the Red Bulls were very
determined to get a brand new keeper to help this club stop the leak and help the offense put some
goals into the oppositions net. Getting his ITC & P1 Visa was former Hamburg keeper Frank Rost and
right away was thrown into the fire for the Red Bulls two match road trip to face Chivas-USA.
BY ADAM SERRANO
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Frank Rost made his debut for the club, but the German veteran was
outshined by his opposing goalkeeper.
Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy made four saves as Chivas USA and the New York Red Bulls
played to a scoreless draw in front of 14,838 at the Home Depot Center.
Happy Carmageddon weekend from Home Depot Center where one press box colleague described the
freeway traffic on the way to the game as being about as busy as it is at 3 a.m.
I heard of no problems for Galaxy fans on the Harbor (110) Freeway heading to the friendly
against Real Madrid at the Coliseum that just kicked off, too, although I wasn't taking any
chances, which is one reason I'm at the HDC (although a game that actually means something is far
preferable to watching Kaka et al wander around for 45 minutes).
Chivas USA's second Wednesday night game of the season did not prove a crowd crushing experience
driving into Home Depot Center tonight.
And if it hadn't been for the way to many parking lot attendants and unnecessary barriers
preventing you from finding a spot easily and quickly I would have been through the gates even
quicker.
Tonight's game against the Vancouver Whitecaps kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Home Depot Center (live
on Fox Sports West) with both teams hoping to do better than the scoreless draw they managed to
accomplish last month in Canada.
It will be an uphill battle for the Whitecaps, the game coming a day after Vancouver fired their
coach.
Philadelphia Union 6 Toronto FC 2
No Carlos Ruiz, no problem. The Philadelphia Union came into their game against Toronto FC
having scored just eight goals in ten games. They put six on the board in a offensive explosion
that solidified their hold on first place in the East.
BY ADAM SERRANO
It was a back and forth affair between the Columbus Crew and Chivas USA as the two clubs battled
to a 3-3 draw.
The Crew were able to battle back from a three decifits as Crew forward Andres Mendoza tallied a
pair of goals in the high-octane match.
SuperClassico weather here in Carson, so let's hope for a game to match.
Fans are filtering into the grass berm; perhaps a larger crowd is in store than the fewer than
20,000 that took in the corresponding fixture last season.
Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts returns from illness for the Galaxy this evening, while Juan Pablo
Angel replaces Miguel Lopez (who is on the bench) up front in the only two changes for Coach Bruce
Arena from the team that destroyed Sporting Kansas City 4-1 last weekend.
This evening the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA meet at the Home Depot Center for the first
2011 installment of the so-called "SuperClasico". For most of its history the clash has been less
than Super with the Galaxy dominating the outcomes. The only time parity has even been a
conversation piece was during the Alexi Lalas as GM years when the team imploded,
especially 2007 and 2008.
This review was written by Saurabh of Hoffenheim Offside. Thanks to him for his help
and make sure to check out his blog!
It may have been important to start playing immediately after losing Dwayne De Rosario in a
trade to New York. We got to see new boy Tony Tchani in action right away and he showed glimpses of
the vision and creativity that is sometimes lacking in THE MLS.
BY ADAM SERRANO
All around Toronto, people are discussing the departure of Dwayne De Rosario, lucky for Toronto
FC, that will no longer be the sole focus.
A shocking miss by Maicon Santos marred the 1-1 draw between Toronto FC and Chivas USA, in what
was a high energy match between the two clubs.
Here's what lies ahead for SoCal soccer lovers this week:
*The Galaxy and Chivas USA are both out of town.
The Galaxy headed to Arizona Sunday for a 10-day camp that will see them play the Colorado
Rapids Wednesday and Vancouver Sunday and next Tuesday.
*Chivas USA dropped a 1-0 decision to the Seattle Sounders Saturday in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Chivas USA 1 San Jose Earthquakes 0
Van Nuys' Tristan Bowen looked lively this afternoon playing out wide against the 'Quakes,
producing a couple of chances for Chivas USA that included a shot he hit just shot wide of the
post. (Photo by Staff Photographer Robert Castillas).
Chivas USA won 2-0 on goals from Alan Gordon and draft pick Victor Estupiñan over PDL team
Fresno Fuego today in a game played just outside Paso Robles.
Gordon scored in the 31st minute from a header off a cross supplied by his former Galaxy
teammate Tristan Bowen. Estupiñan's second similarly resulted from a header off a cross from
defender Carlos Borja in the 80th minute.