Don’t miss the ChivaGirls performance this Saturday during the last match of the season!

Chivas USA fell by a 3-0 score to the San Jose Earthquakes on the road on Wednesday night, with Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski scoring a second half hat-trick to give the home side the win. The Red-and-White fall to 8-17-4 on the season, while San Jose improves to 13-9-7 and prepares for the playoffs.

The Red-and-White have just one game remaining in 2010, facing the Chicago Fire at The Home Depot Center in Carson this Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. PT. It is Fan Appreciation Night, with prizes, raffles and giveaways occuring throughout the match. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

Kevin Guppy, a Cal State Northridge alum and Chino Hills native, earned the start in goal for Chivas USA as starter Zach Thornton was rested. Guppy made six saves, including one stellar stop in the second half, in his MLS debut.

By starting the match, midfielder Paulo Nagamura set a record by becoming the Brazilian player with the most appearances in MLS history. Nagamura has played 145 games in MLS, more than any other player from Brazil, including 87 games for Chivas USA. The rest of his appearances came with the LA Galaxy and Toronto FC.

After a scoreless first half, San Jose was able to take control in the second half, first scoring in the 55th minute after Chivas defender Michael Umaña fouled Wondolowski in the box. Wondolowski slotted the resulting penalty just under the diving Guppy.

Wondolowski struck twice more, in minutes 59 and 72, to notch a hat trick and leave him with 17 goals on the season, tied with the LA Galaxy’s Edson Buddle for the league lead. He also set a single-season San Jose Earthquakes record.

Both of Chivas USA’s starting central defenders in the match, Michael Umaña and Yamith Cuesta, were forced to leave the game due to injury. Cuesta suffered a left knee injury in minute 62 and was replaced by Jonathan Bornstein, while Umaña strained his right hamstring four minutes later and was replaced by Sal Zizzo. The Red-and-White finished the game with Mariano Trujillo, Ante Jazic, Bornstein and Jorge Flores on the back line.

Next home game: Chivas USA will celebrate Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For more information, or for tickets to the match, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.

 CHIVAS USA HEAD COACH MARTIN VASQUEZ

Overall comment on the 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes:

“The result hurts. We had a good plan, I thought we were executing well. We got a little caught off guard on the first goal we gave up. I think (Chivas USA defender) Michael (Umana) was a little bit too anxious to try to win the ball and all of a sudden he holds (San Jose forward Chris) Wondolowski and they get a penalty kick. Obviously the result hurts because it’s another loss, but right now what hurts more is losing two guys to injuries. Obviously it’s something that can happen but it’s concerning. We came in and I felt that we were playing against a good team and we were doing well; unfortunately we couldn’t hold onto at least a point.”

On motivating the players at this time of year:

“If you watch the first half, guys are still playing. We’re trying to continue to do well. We’ve been going all season long to be a competitive team. But there’s a group of guys that know what’s at stake every game even though we’re out of the playoffs, even though there’s one game left. We’re professionals, and we are proud to play for this organization, so I give them a lot of credit because it’s difficult but they have shown a lot of heart and a lot of pride.”

On what to take into next year:

“We need work because obviously we need to find the right chemistry of guys. We have a good nucleus. We need a little bit of time because it doesn’t happen overnight. The best teams in the league have been hit, from the (Los Angeles) Galaxy to D.C. (United). Right now it’s going to be a challenge and a test for our ownership group, for all of us to be patient and continue to work hard.”

CHIVAS USA GOALKEEPER KEVIN GUPPY

On making his MLS debut:

“I was excited at first obviously. Nerves were running a little bit but I think that’s normal. Soon as the whistle blew, I settled down and did what I’ve been working on and what I know I’m capable of. As the game progressed, I settled in more and it just came naturally.”

On his evaluation of his own performance:

“Giving up three goals is never something to be proud of. The first goal was a penalty kick and I guessed the right way, but it was well struck. The second goal slipped right underneath (me) and I was a little upset about that because I’m better on that one. Third goal, it was just tough to save that. But there were some few good moments that I can look back on and say it was a decent outing for my first time.”

CHIVAS USA DEFENDER JONATHAN BORNSTEIN

On the 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes:

“The first half was a little back and forth, each team looked to create good chances for themselves. We came out at halftime and I thought it was going to be a similar game, and then the penalty kick gets called and they score to go up 1-0. Then (San Jose forward Chris) Wondolowski does a good job on the second goal. They had a couple of chances after that and I thought (Chivas USA forward) Jesus Padilla came in and made a good impact right away for us. We were unfortunate not to get one and then the game kind of went on and they put away their chances and kind of dictated the pace for the last part of the game at least.”

On what to look for in the team’s next game:

“I think more than anything you have to get a result. It’s our last game of the season, last game at home. For me, it’s my last game as a Chivas USA player and I definitely want it to be a good one and end it on a good note. I think overall the team just has to perform better, defend more as a unit and kind of go from there. Most of all, show our fans a good send-off for the season and get the W.”

Chivas USA Press Clippings: October 20, 2010

Print/Web
1. CHIVAS USA: Shake, rattle and roll-ESPN.com
2. Previa: San Jose Earthquakes – Chivas USA-FutbolMLS.com
3. Battle of the Revamped rosters: Chivas USA plays at San Jose on Wednesday-MLSSoccer.com
4. Chivas USA’s Bornstein gets one final home game-LA Daily News
5. San Jose Earthquakes – Chivas USA: Head To Head Preview-Goal.com
6. MLS THIS WEEK – PART 1-Big Apple Soccer

• In order to win the Budweiser Golden Boot, Chris Wondolowski will need to score three goals and add two assists in the Quakes’ last two games – and hope that LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle does not register on the scoresheet against FC Dallas on Sunday.
• After the 1-0 loss to Houston over the weekend, the Earthquakes have lost back-to-back home games for the first time this season. They will open the MLS Cup Playoffs at Buck Shaw Stadium.
• Rodolfo Espinoza has a goal and two assists the last two games, after assisting on Jesus Padilla’s late consolation strike for Chivas in the 2-1 loss at Seattle.
• With a loss or a tie, San Jose will face either Columbus or New York in an Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
• Chivas USA have not lost to the Earthquakes since San Jose’s return to the league in 2008. The Red-and-White have won four of the six meetings, including a 3-2 win in Carson on April 24.

Chivas USA would like to thank all the fans that showed their support during the 2010 season.

Print/Web

1. CHIVAS USA: Hopeless in Seattle-ESPN.com

2. Outclassed-LA Soccer News

3. Fans motivate Seattle to 2-1 win over Chivas-MLSSoccer.com

4. Chivas USA Falls In Seattle-Soccer365.com

5. This Week in MLS: Do You Believe What You Just Saw?-WorldSoccerReader.com

6. MLS expansion: Whom should Galaxy/Chivas USA protect-ESPN.com

7. Chivas 1-0 Necaxa: Chivas Notch Second Victory At Omnilife-Goal.com

(On his impressions of the match…) “We have seen Seattle play and know how they are going to come out with energy. They come out and pressure you and attack you in their half and get out in transition. They get you in transition and get you in many games. We talked about it going against their forwards and midfielders, we need be on our feet, bump them, stop them, once they start running they are very difficult to stop. On the first goal we defended very poorly. The second goal I’m disappointed because the referee did not call a foul against us, they cut us on transition and scored. We knew exactly that is their strength, if you go down two to zero here it is difficult. We tried mainly in the second half to go at them with a goal. The first goal for us came to us too late.”

(On the first goal of the match by Steve Zakuani…) “We gave the ball away and they cut us on transition. I think he went by three or four of our guys, I think if one of those guys bump him and stops the play there it’s not a goal. We were to naïve, we talked about defending and the only chance we had was solid defense and cover. We didn’t do a good job and he scored a goal.”

(On his team playing until the end and coming away with a goal…) “Yeah but that has been the same story for us this season. We have given up early goals and have to try and chase the game and come up short. Knowing that we have to do better.”

ENGLISH
Head Coach Martín Vásquez talks about the game and the two early goals

Midfielder Michael Lahoud talks about the match

SPANISH

El mediocampista Jesus Padilla habla sobre el partido en Seattle

Chivas USA fell for the first time in league play at Qwest Field on Friday night by a score of 2-1 against the Seattle Sounders in front of a sellout crowd of 36,356 fans in Seattle, WA.

The Red-and-White (8-16-4) had not lost or conceded a goal in league play against the Sounders before tonight’s match until Seattle’s Steve Zakuani scored at the 9th minute of play. Chivas USA was the only MLS team that the Sounders (14-9-6) had not defeated during the regular season until tonight.

Chivas USA went down in the scoreboard early in the match when the Red-and-White defenders couldn’t clear the ball outside the box and Seattle’s Parke passed it to Zakuani, who got in between a handful of defenders and dribbled Zach Thornton to put it into the net for the first goal of the match at the 9th minute. The Sounders kept attacking and encountered the second goal very soon when Freddy Montero set the ball to Zakuani, who cut it inside to Osvaldo Alonso, and the Seattle midfielder knocked it to Thornton’s far post at the 25th minute for the decisive goal.

The Red-and-White’s only goal came very late in the match at the 92nd minute when Rodolfo Espinoza sent in a cross from the right hand side to Jesus Padilla, who won the header and scored just a minute before the final whistle. It was Padilla’s sixth goal of the season.

Chivas USA was without forward Alan Gordon, who is serving a two game suspension, and Justin Braun, who is recuperating from a concussion suffered last week. Giancarlo Maldonado started the match and put the ball inside the net in the 60th minute but the play was ruled offside.

The Red-and-White remains with 28 points and with a record of 8-16-4 in the Western Conference, eliminated from Playoff contention. The team has two matches left in the season, first on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday and the last game of the season against the Chicago Fire on October 23 on Fan Appreciation Night.
The Red-and-White will travel to Los Angeles on Saturday and will take Sunday off. Chivas USA will resume training on Monday at 10:00 a.m. PT on Field 6 at The Home Depot Center before traveling on Tuesday to San Jose for the match against the Earthquakes on Wednesday.

Last home game: Chivas USA will celebrate Fan Appreciation Night for the final MLS game of 2010 on Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For more information, or for tickets to the match, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.