Weekly Update: Shaking the Quakes

Chivas USA travel to face San Jose Earthquakes this Saturda

FIRST-PLACE CHIVAS USA VISITS SAN JOSE THIS SATURDAY, RETURNS HOME MAY 9:

Chivas USA, the top team in MLS with a 5-1-1 record, visits the San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. PT. After a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas this past Saturday, the Red-and-White now have 16 points, four ahead of Western Conference rival Seattle Sounders FC for the top spot in the league. After the match against San Jose, Chivas USA will return to The Home Depot Center for a matchup against fellow 2005 expansion club Real Salt Lake, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. The Red-and-White, which currently own a four-match winning streak at home to start the season, are offering fans a special Family Pack for the May 9 match, including four tickets, four hotdogs, and four Chivas USA hats, starting at just $58. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

RED-AND-WHITE MAINTAIN HOME DOMINANCE WITH 2-0 VICTORY OVER FC DALLAS:

Chivas USA fell 1-0 to Toronto FC on Wednesday for the team's first loss of the 2009 season, but quickly bounced back on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center with a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas. The Red-and-White took a man advantage in the 25th minute when Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala handled the ball outside the box, earning a red card. Chivas USA then took a 1-0 lead in minute 68, when a long ball by Paulo Nagamura found Mariano Trujillo on the right wing, and the defender's cross was headed home by Atiba Harris, who scored his second goal of the season. Then, in the 91st minute, Gerson Mayén earned his league-leading fourth assist with a long ball over the top of the Dallas defense to Alecko Eskandarian, who finished the breakaway to seal the Chivas USA victory. The win improved the team's record at home to 4-0-0 on the season, and 5-1-1 overall.

ZACH THORNTON CONTINUES EXCEPTIONAL PLAY WITH FOURTH SHUTOUT OF 2009:

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton earned his league-leading fourth shutout of 2009 in Saturday's 2-0 win over FC Dallas, and now has 27 saves on the season, also tops in MLS. Thornton made several diving stops on Saturday night against Dallas, including point-blank saves on shots by Dax McCarty and Kenny Cooper in the first half, to earn the clean sheet, which was the 62nd of Thornton's career, tying him for third place all-time in MLS with Tony Meola. The 1998 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and five-time MLS All-Star now has given up just three goals this season, good for a .43 goals against average, second in the league.

CHIVAS USA YOUTH PRODUCT GERSON MAYÉN LEADS MLS IN ASSISTS:

Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayén, who entered Saturday's match in the 82nd minute for Chukwudi Chijindu, played a long ball over the top of the FC Dallas defense in second half injury time, feeding Alecko Eskandarian for the Red-and-White's second goal of the match. The pass earned Mayén his fourth assist of 2009, which is good for the top spot in the league. Mayén made his MLS debut in Chivas USA's second game of the season, a 2-0 win at FC Dallas on March 29, and also earned his first assist in the match. A former member of the Chivas USA U-18 Team, Mayén has played 6 games this season (starting 3).

INJURY UPDATE:

A pair of Chivas USA strikers returned from injury to play on Saturday night against FC Dallas; Justin Braun recovered from a right knee sprain to start the match, while Maykel Galindo entered the match off the bench. In other news, forward Alecko Eskandarian has suffered a right hamstring strain, and could be out several weeks while recovering from the injury. Several more Chivas USA players are still recovering from offseason surgeries and other injuries, and are gradually returning to practice. For a full copy of the latest Chivas USA Injury Report, please visit MLSnet.com.

CHIVAS USA INJURY REPORT (As of Tuesday, 4/28):
Bobby Burling -- Sports hernia surgery -- Out
Alecko Eskandarian -- Right hamstring strain -- Out
Ante Jazic -- Concussion -- Out
Dan Kennedy -- Right knee sprain -- Out
Ante Razov -- Right ankle surgery -- Out
Claudio Suárez -- Left calf strain -- Out
Lawson Vaughn -- Left ankle surgery -- Out
Sasha Victorine -- Left knee surgery -- Out
Bojan Stepanovic -- Left leg contusion -- Questionable
Justin Braun -- Right knee sprain -- Probable
Maykel Galindo -- Sports hernia surgery -- Probable

CHIVAS USA YOUTH TEAMS SPLIT MINI CLÁSICO, FACE REAL SO CAL NEXT:

The Chivas USA Development Academy Teams split the Mini Clásico this past Saturday against the LA Galaxy Youth Teams, with the Chivas USA U-18's earning a 3-1 victory after the U-16's fell 4-0. The U-18's victory came thanks to two goals from Jesse Paredes and one from Daniel Castro, was revenge for a 3-0 loss to the Galaxy earlier in the season, on Nov. 8. Next up for both teams is a match against Real So Cal on Saturday, May 2, at Cerritos College. The U-16's kick off first, at 8:00 a.m., and will be followed immediately by the U-18's, at 10:00 a.m. The U-18's currently hold a record of 13-5-4 (W-L-T), while the U-16's are 9-7-6 in the 2008-09 season. For more information on the Chivas USA Youth System, please visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t120/youth.

MAYKEL GALINDO ON 'PASIÓN CHIVAS USA' THIS THURSDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PT:

Fans can tune in to 'Pasión Chivas USA', airing this Thursday night from 5-6 p.m. PT on W Radio 690 AM. Hosts Hipólito Gamboa and Rigoberto Cervantez, who also serve as play-by-play and color commentator for every Chivas USA match of the 2009 MLS season, will preview Saturday's match at San Jose and speak with Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo, who played in Saturday's 2-0 victory over FC Dallas. The official weekly radio program of the Red-and-White, 'Pasión Chivas USA' covers everything on the Major League Soccer club, from match commentary, recent news from the team, interviews, contests to win tickets to Chivas USA matches, as well as phone calls from fans listening to the show.

DON'T MISS 'SOMOS CHIVAS USA' THIS SATURDAY AT 1:30 P.M. PT ON KAZA AZTECA 54:

Fans, don't miss Chivas USA's official weekly TV show, "Somos Chivas USA'. Featuring renowned co-hosts Mara Almada and Antonio Rosique, with reporting by renowned Chiva-expert Ramón Diaz, 'Somos Chivas USA' gives viewers an inside look at the Red-and-White, including player features, match analysis, highlights, and much more. This week's 'Somos Chivas USA' is scheduled to air on KAZA Azteca 54 in Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m. PT, complete with special features and commentaries on Chivas USA. Tune in this Saturday for your 'Somos Chivas USA!'

CHIVAS DE GUADALAJARA UPDATE:

Chivas de Guadalajara battled Pumas to a 1-1 draw on the road this Sunday in Mexico City in a match played in an empty stadium due to swine flu concerns. Guadalajara took the lead in the 20th minute when Javier Hernández headed in a cross from Sergio Amaury Ponce, but Pumas struck back late, with Juan Carlos Cacho scoring the equalizer in the 82nd minute. The draw puts Chivas in third place in Group 2 of the Mexican First Division with a record of 5-5-5 (W-L-T), good for 20 points, just one behind second-place Tecos, and five behind Pumas. Chivas now returns home for a match against Puebla this Saturday, May 2, at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.

JOIN CHIVAS USA'S NEW SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE AT MYCHIVASUSA.COM:

Last week, Chivas USA launched MyChivasUSA.com, a social networking site designed for fans of the Red-and-White. The social network was created using the Ning platform, and allows fans to customize a profile, set up blogs, add photos and videos, send messages and chat, track matches they've attended, and much more. Several Chivas USA players, including Jonathan Bornstein and Alecko Eskandarian, as well as members of the ChivaGirls, have already set up profiles on the page. Chivas USA season ticket holders and members of the Union Ultras and Legión 1908 supporters groups were among a select group of members invited to join the site last week. For more information, or to make your own account, please visit MyChivasUSA.com and click on the 'Sign Up' link.

CHIVAS USA 2009 SEASON SEATS:

Chivas USA's 18-game Season Seat Package, starting at just $180, is on sale via 1-877-CHIVAS-1 and cdchivasusa.com. The package includes a seat at each of the team's 15 MLS home matches, as well as three bonus games to be announced. Season Seat holders also have the right to exchange unused tickets, plus a host of other benefits. For more information, or to purchase your Season Seat today, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

VISIT 'DENTRO DEL REBAÑO', CHIVAS USA'S OFFICIAL BLOG:

Chivas USA's official blog, 'Dentro del Rebaño' (or 'Inside the Flock') will contain updated content on the team throughout the season. Check out chivas-usa.blogspot.com today for the latest information on Chivas USA!

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MLSnet.com Comments

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  Preki, Chivas USA part company

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  Thank you for an amazing season

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  Zach's on? Make Thornton year's best

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  Join the Chivas USA social network!