Preview: Union seek second straight win at Chivas

CHIVAS USA vs PHILADELPHIA UNION
THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, Carson, Calif.
April 21, 2012 (WEEK 7, MLS Game #60)
10:30 pm ET (The Comcast Network)

Looking to transfer their road form to their Home Depot Center surroundings, Chivas USA entertain Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening in Carson. Chivas USA are winless at home - but undefeated on the road after their 1-0 win at Toronto FC last weekend. Union broke into the win column in 2012 last weekend at home in a 1-0 win against the Columbus Crew.

REFEREE: Juan Guzman. SAR (bench): Ian Anderson; JAR (opposite): Fabio Tovar; 4th: Baldomero Toledo
MLS Career: 9 games; FC/gm: 28.0; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 4; pens: 2

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INJURY REPORT:

• CHIVAS USA - OUT: MF Marvin Iraheta (L knee ACL); QUESTIONABLE: MF Pete Vagenas (rib contusion); FW Juan Pablo Angel (concussion symptoms); PROBABLE: DF Michael Lahoud (R hamstring strain); MF Ben Zemanski (R knee MCL sprain)
• PHILADELPHIA UNION - OUT: FW Krystian Witkowski (concussion); MF Roger Torres (L knee menisectomy/MCL sprain/tibial contusion); QUESTIONABLE: DF Danny Califf (L hamstring strain); PROBABLE: DF Sheanon Williams (lip laceration); DF Carlos Valdes (R calf strain)

INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

SUSPENDED: none

WARNINGS:

SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHV: Oswaldo Minda

SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: PHI: Gabriel Gomez

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME (4 meetings): Chivas USA 0 wins, 4 goals ... Union 2 wins, 8 goals ... Ties 2

AT CHIVAS USA (2 meetings): Chivas USA 0 wins, 2 goals ... Union 0 wins, 2 goals ... Ties 2

LAST YEAR (MLS):

6/25: PHI 3, CHV 2 (Paunovic 48; Ruiz 69; Mwanga 82 - Umana 28; Braun 77)
10/2: CHV 1, PHI 1 (Angel 90 - Mapp 59)

• This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
• Chivas USA have never defeated Union since that club came into the league.
• Union have won both encounters at PPL Park, including a 3-2 victory last season; the teams have played to a pair of 1-1 draws at The Home Depot Center.
• Coaches record: Robin Fraser vs. PHI: P2 W0 L1 D1 ... Peter Nowak vs. CHV: P8 W6 L0 D2

CHIVAS USA

Chivas USA maintained their perfect record on the road this season, defeating Toronto FC 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. Chivas USA sit in a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with 9 points from 6 games.

HIGHLIGHTS: Goats stay undefeated on the road
LAST MATCH

• The game's only goal came in the 31st minute. Chivas USA midfielder Oswaldo Minda beat a pair of TFC defenders to Miller Bolanos's corner kick, sending a downward header that pounded off the turf into the roof of the goal.
• Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy made five saves for the shutout, the best coming with one minute left as Danny Koevermans saw his wide-open, point-blank shot saved.
• Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser made two changes to the team that came back for a 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field. Miller Bolanos and Ryan Smith came into the side, in place of Blair Gavin and Cesar Romero.
• CHIVAS USA (4-4-2): Dan Kennedy - James Riley, Heath Pearce, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ante Jazic - Miller Bolanos (Cesar Romero 66), Nick LaBrocca (Casey Townsend 93+), Oswaldo Minda, Ben Zemanski - Ryan Smith (Scott Gordon 84), Alejandro Moreno.

TEAM NEWS
Chivas USA preview Union showdown

• The win for the third for Chivas USA in three road games this season - equaling the club's entire win total on the road during the 2011 season.
• "We're grinding out results on the road," defender Heath Pearce said. "That's three road games and three road wins for us. Obviously in all three of our wins, we haven't put in a dominating performance yet, but we're finding ways to get wins and that is what is important."
• Chivas USA still have yet to allow more than a single goal in any game this season. The shutout of Toronto FC was their second this season.
• "It's an experienced group and I think you can see that in our play. There haven't been too many out-and-out mistakes," goalkeeper Dan Kennedy said. "[Opponents] really have to create something special or serve in a ball from a wide position to get in behind us. As long as we're that difficult to break down, then teams are going to have a hard time creating goal-scoring opportunities."
• But at The Home Depot Center, Chivas have lost all three matches by 1-0 scorelines. "It's huge, it's huge," head coach Robin Fraser said. "While we've done some good things the last couple of weeks, we definitely need to come home and put in another good performance at home in front our fans so that we can really assert ourselves wherever we play."
• The lone goal in the TFC match came from Ecuadorian holding midfielder Oswaldo Minda, his first MLS goal. "As we look at him, we're seeing the experienced veteran player that we were hoping to see," Fraser said. "He's been strong and a competitor and certainly he's been a big part of us getting some good results recently."
• Chivas USA also made an addition to their striking corps during the week, signing 19-year-old Colombian forward Jose Erick Correa. One of the leading goal scorers in Colombia's Liga Postobon, Correa has tallied six goals in 12 matches this season for Boyaca Chico.
• "Jose is a player that we've been watching for a little while now," Fraser said. "He's a very promising young player with a lot of physical attributes and is definitely a player that we're excited to have join us. In spite of his age, he's young, strong and a good athlete. He holds the ball well and he scores goals."

PHILADELPHIA UNION

Philadelphia Union recorded their first win of the 2012 season, getting a first-half penalty kick for a 1-0 win against the Columbus Crew on Saturday afternoon at PPL Park. Union are in a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 4 points from 5 games.

HIGHLIGHTS: Union get first win of the season
LAST MATCH

• The game's only goal came in the 38th minute. A shot from Philadelphia's Freddy Adu hit the hand of the Crew's Eric Gehrig, and referee Michael Kennedy pointed to the spot. Gabriel Gomez then finished off the penalty kick.
• Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath was called upon to make just one save on the afternoon behind a makeshift Union defense.
• Union boss Peter Nowak made three changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at PPL Park. Raymon Gaddis, Michael Farfan and Freddy Adu came into the side, in place of Danny Califf, Porfirio Lopez and Chandler Hoffman.
• PHILADELPHIA UNION (4-2-3-1): Zac MacMath - Raymon Gaddis, Carlos Valdes, Sheanon Williams, Gabriel Farfan - Brian Carroll, Michael Farfan - Keon Daniel, Gabriel Gomez (Amobi Okugo 71), Freddy Adu (Josue Martinez 62) - Lionard Pajoy (Antoine Hoppenot 93+).

TEAM NEWS

Union look to Chivas USA

• Union put an end to six-game winless streak, dating back to last year, in the win against Columbus. Of Union's three goals this season, all have come from deadball situations (one on a corner, one on a direct free kick, one penalty kick).
• "We won 1-0 and got a second straight shutout," said midfielder Brian Carroll. "We've gotten points in two straight matches. You want to keep it going. We got three points, but we were far from perfect. We have a lot to improve upon. I think we feel good about ourselves and we'll go on the road looking for three more. If we can get a big win on the road, it will go a long way for us collectively as a group."
• Union were forced into a change just before kickoff when Danny Califf was scratched with a sore hamstring.
• "Danny didn't feel well after the game against Vancouver [two weeks ago]," said Nowak. "The hamstring started to get tight so we put him on hold over the bye week we had. The doctors did a pretty good job to try and bring him back. By Friday, he started feeling it again but he was in the starting lineup. He felt it was worse [today]. It's not me. I love Danny Califf. Don't get me wrong."
• Sheanon Williams, who had figured at right back all season, moved inside to partner Carlos Valdes. "It's just different from right back," Williams said. "Something I like to do is go forward. When you're playing center back, it kind of limits your chances unless you're playing for Arsenal or one of those teams where their center backs just bomb forward."
• Raymon Gaddis, the 35th overall selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of West Virginia, made his full professional debut, playing 90 minutes at right back. "Sheanon, he was behind me, conducting me, telling me to do this and do that because he has a lot of experience [at right back]," Gaddis said. "My teammates helped me tremendously."
• As the game progressed, Nowak was pleased Gaddis "was not shy going forward." Said Gaddis: "It puts the other team under a lot of pressure and creates other opportunities and avenues for players to distribute the ball. That's what the coaching staff preaches - to get up and down the line. It's expected of you, and I enjoy it."
• In addition, Gabriel Farfan was preferred at left back ahead of Porfirio Lopez, who had started the first four games.
• With Lionard Pajoy ostensibly set out as a lone striker, Freddy Adu filled the left wing with Keon Daniel again on the right.
• "He did well in getting into wide spots and getting the ball and taking guys on," Union midfielder Brian Carroll said of Adu. "I thought he did a good job of getting in crosses and being dangerous on the wings."
• Adu returned to the lineup for the first time since the season opener, missing three matches while on international duty with the U.S. U-23's failed Olympic qualification effort. His dribbling move and shot created the penalty kick in the first half.
• "It felt great [to be back], especially in a winning effort," Adu said. "I'm glad I was part of the play that led to the goal as well. My goal this year is to be an impact player for the team - not just to be play well. I want to be involved a lot more offensively and going forward. From that perspective, it felt good today."