The United States Olympic Team played its first tune-up match for the Beijing Games today in Hong Kong, and tied the Ivory Coast 0-0. Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan played the first 45 minutes of the draw, a game in which 17 of the 18 players on the U.S. roster played.

The game was part of the ING Cup, a tournament in Hong Kong involving four teams (USA, the Netherlands, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon) that are all preparing for the Olympics.

The result, with lineups and a match recap, is available on the U.S. Soccer website by clicking here.

Next up for Team USA is a match against Cameroon on Saturday, and the team makes its Olympic debut on Aug. 7 against Japan.

Los defensas de Chivas USA, Claudio Suárez y Jonathan Bornstein, fueron algunas de las figuras presentes en la primera edición de los Tecate Premios Deportes, ceremonia transmitida por Univision el domingo pasado. Tanto Suárez como Bornstein, al igual que figuras como Cuauhtémoc Blanco, fueron nominados en diez categorías distintas y fueron seleccionados por su talento, carácter y perseverancia, al igual que por sus contribuciones e influencia sobre la comunidad hispana. En los Tecate Premios Deportes, Suárez y Bornstein fueron nominados por los aficionados por medio de Univision.com para integrar el Equipo de Estrellas del Año. Suárez fue nominado en la categoría de defensa central. Bornstein en la categoría de defensa lateral izquierdo.
Usted puede ver todo lo referente a la premiación en Univision.com aquí.

También puede ver lo que sucedió antes y después de la premiación en nuestro Canal Oficial de Chivas USA:

El temblor de 5.4 de magnitud que sacudió al Sur de California también se sintió en el entrenamiento de Chivas USA en El Home Depot Center. El temblor, que ocurrió a las 11:42 a.m. Hora del Pacífico y con epicentro en Chino Hills, a 35 millas al este de Carson, fue sentido por la mayoría de los jugadores, quienes terminaban la sesión de entrenamiento al mediodía.

“Yo me sentí mareado… tenía miedo!”, dijo Gerson Mayen, elemento de Chivas USA.

“Primero pensé que algo andaba mal con mi cabeza… pensé que me estaba mareando o que estaba cansado por el calor… sentí que me estaba moviendo mucho y me gustó!”, expresó el defensa Lawson Vaughn, quien no desconoce las fuerzas de la naturaleza.

“Fue mi primer temblor… Cuando estaba en Tulsa, estuve cerca de un tornado, así que he estado en un tornado, en un temblor, ahora me falta un huracán”, agregó.

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Southern California at 11:42 a.m. PT, just as Chivas USA was finishing practice on Field 6 at The Home Depot Center. The players had wrapped up training and were preparing to sign autographs for fans before heading back in to the locker room when the quake, whose epicenter was about 35 miles east of Carson, in Chino Hills, began.

The earthquake lasted for about 20 seconds, and followed with almost a dozen aftershocks measuring up to 3.8 in magnitude. According a report from Reuters, no injuries or major damage have been reported.

Chivas USA players, out on a practice field, were well out of harm’s way.

“I was sitting on the bench when the earthquake happened,” said Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn. “When I first felt it, I thought something was wrong with my head – I thought maybe I was dizzy, or exhausted from heat. Then I looked around and everyone was saying ‘Earthquake! Earthquake!’ and I just enjoyed it. I could feel myself rocking back and forth, so I loved it!”

Vaughn is no stranger to powerful natural events: “It was my first earthquake,” he said. “When I was in Tulsa, I actually was not to far from a tornado, so I’ve done the tornado, the earthquake, and now I need a hurricane!”

Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Flores played the full 90 minutes yesterday in the United States Under-20 National Team’s 3-1 loss to Northern Ireland in the opening match of the Milk Cup, an annual youth tournament held in Northern Ireland.

A more complete recap from USSoccer.com can be found here.

The 19-year-old Anaheim native, who has three goals for the Red-and-White this season, has played in more matches this year for the U-20’s than any other player.

Next up for the team is a match against Wales on Wednesday before playing for either first, third, or fifth place in the six-team tournament on Friday.

Major League Soccer players David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Jim Brennan (Toronto FC) and Jorge Flores (Chivas USA) support MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, by visiting patients at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids Hospital) on Wednesday, July 23. The MLS players are in Toronto for the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game (Thursday, July 24th at BMO Field, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, Telefutura & CBC in Canada).

PHOTO: MLS/Paul Giamou