Chivas USA earned a win in its third and final group stage SuperLiga game, topping Pachuca 1-0 but falling short of advancing to the tournament’s semifinals. With the victory, the Red-and-White finish with a 1-1-1 record and four points, behind Houston (2-0-1, 7 points) and Puebla F.C. (2-1-0, 6 points).
Giancarlo Maldonado scored his first goal for the Red-and-White in the seventh minute, slipping behind the Pachuca defense to receive a long pass from Ante Jazic before taking one touch and then volleying past goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.
Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and the Chivas USA defense played a solid game, keeping a clean sheet for the first time in SuperLiga 2010. Carlos Borja played center back for the first time for the Red-and-White, and captain Mariano Trujillo helped organize the defense.
Several Chivas USA players were dangerous on the attacking end, with Maldonado combining well with forward Jesús Padilla and outside midfielders Rodolfo Espinoza and Osael Romero. Chukwudi Chijindu entered as a substitute in the 55th minute and had several chances, including a chip off the bar after dribbling through the Pachuca defense.
Chivas USA Head Coach Martín Vásquez, on tonight’s match: “I thought it was a good game for us, and obviously the result helps. I’m happy with the effort and happy, at times, with the way we played, and I’m pleased with the young guys coming in and taking advantage of this opportunity.”
With SuperLiga 2010 now over for the Red-and-White, the team turns its focus back to the MLS regular season, traveling this Saturday to face Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Forward Justin Braun, who missed Wednesday’s match with a knee contusion, is expected to return, as is midfielder Paulo Nagamura, who has returned from Brazil following the birth of his first child.
Prior to Wednesday’s match, Chivas USA learned that it had acquired American midfielder Sal Zizzo in a weighted lottery held after the former Hannover 96 (Germany) player signed with MLS. Zizzo is not expected to be eligible for Saturday’s match at RSL, and also expected to miss the game is defender Jonathan Bornstein, who has a strained right knee.
Next home game: Following the match in Salt Lake, Chivas looks to a matchup against an Eastern Conference foe in the Columbus Crew on Saturday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. PT, at The Home Depot Center. Midfielder Sal Zizzo, a San Diego native and UCLA alum, could make his debut for the Red-and-White in the game. For more information, or tickets to the match, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
