CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA earned a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the club’s first match against MLS competition of the 2011 preseason, with forward Alan Gordon scoring the game’s only goal. The Red-and-White now have two wins and no losses during preseason, and have yet to concede a goal in 195 minutes of play.
In a match that consisted of three 35-minute periods, Chivas USA came out with a strong lineup and nearly took an early lead when midfielder Blair Gavin, playing his first game since returning from a hamstring injury in 2010, placed a header on net that was saved by San Jose’s Jon Busch. Both teams then traded chances, with Bobby Convey forcing a good save out of Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton, and Paulo Nagamura sliding a low shot just wide.
The Red-and-White gained the lead midway through the second session when Alan Gordon received a chip behind the defense played by Victor Estupiñan. Gordon took a couple touches inside the box and then slotted a shot past the San Jose goalkeeper and into the net to give Chivas USA the advantage. It was Gordon’s second goal of the preseason, and the assist went to Estupiñan, who had also scored in the Red-and-White’s first match against the Fresno Fuego.
Chivas USA will have tomorrow off before returning to training on Wednesday and Thursday at The Home Depot Center. On Friday the team travels to Phoenix, Arizona, where it will scrimmage against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Chivas USA 1:0 San Jose Earthquakes
Preseason Scrimmage (105-minute match)
February 7, 2011 – Carson, Calif.
Goals:
CHV – Alan Gordon (Victor Estupiñan) 55
Chivas USA – Zach Thornton (Sergio Arias 53), Zarek Valentin (Mariano Trujillo 53), Jimmy Conrad (Carlos Borja 53), Michael Umaña (Andrew Boyens 53), Ante Jazic (Jorge Flores 36) (Bryan De La Fuente 71), Paulo Nagamura (Gerson Mayén 53), Blair Gavin (Mike Lahoud 53), Simon Elliott (Ben Zemanski 36), Francisco Mendoza (Sal Zizzo 53) (Chris Cortez 85), Tristan Bowen (Alan Gordon 53), Alejandro Moreno (Victor Estupiñan 36) (Jesús Padilla 71)
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch (Andrew Weber 35, David Bingham 70), Tim Ward (Steven Beitashour 53), Bobby Burling (Tim Ward 70), Brandon McDonald (Chris Leitch 53), Ramiro Corrales (Justin Morrow 53), Joey Gjertsen (Omar Jasseh 53, Trialist 80), Brad Ring (Anthony Ampaipitakwong 53), Chris Wondolowski (Tony Donatelli 53), Bobby Convey (Trialist 53), Ryan Johnson (Trialist 53), Steven Lenhart (Trialist 53)
CHIVAS USA – PRESEASON 2011
DAY DATE OPPONENT (LOCATION) RESULT/TIME*(Scorers)
Tue Feb 1 vs. Fresno Fuego (Paso Robles, CA) W, 2-0 (Gordon, Estupiñan)
Mon Feb 7 vs. San Jose Earthquakes (HDC) W, 1-0 (Gordon)
Sat Feb 12 vs. Seattle Sounders (Casa Grande, AZ) 10:30 a.m. MT
Tue Feb 15 vs. Real Salt Lake (Casa Grande, AZ) 12:00 p.m. MT
Fri Feb 18 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Casa Grande, AZ) 11:00 a.m. MT
Fri Feb 25 vs. D.C. United (HDC) 12:00 p.m. PT
Sat Mar 12 vs. F.C. Dallas (Frisco, TX) 7:30 p.m. CT
SAT MAR 19 vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (OPENING DAY) 7:30 p.m. PT
