Chivas USA fall 4-1 to LA Galaxy in Reserve League Action

The LA Galaxy handed Chivas USA their first loss in Reserve League play Monday morning, with a 4-1 win at the StubHub Center’s Field 6. The visitors were led by Chandler Hoffman’s hat trick, while the Red-and-White’s lone goal was delivered by Bryan de la Fuente assisted by Jose Manuel Rivera. The Galaxy would go on to cap the match off with a Jack McBean penalty kick.

The sides came out fast from the opening whistle, as three goals were tallied by the 10th minute of the match. In the sixth minute, Hoffman got on the end of a cross from Laurent Courtois on the left wing for the tap in as he made his run toward the far post. Three minutes later, Hoffman won possession of the ball in the box after a long ball over the top was played into the area. Hoffman then turned and fired to find the back of the net past Chivas USA goalkeeper Patrick McLain.

The Rojiblancos answered back in the 10th minute when Rivera took control of the ball near the arc and found De la Fuente on the right wing. The Academy midfielder made a short move on his defender, created space for himself and unleashed a right-footed strike that beat Brian Rowe to his right to cut the lead in half at 2-1.

Playing a goal down, the Goats continued to get into range and were able to get off several shots around the area that were just off frame. In the 52nd minute, Rivera nearly equalized for the home side as his free kick from about 25 yards out and behind the arc sailed over the defensive wall and crashed into the crossbar.

The Galaxy pulled away with two unanswered goals to take a two-goal lead. In the 53rd minute Hoffman followed up his own header attempt that was initially batted away by McLain and knocked in his third goal. After Chivas went down a man beginning in the 59th minute when Minda received a direct red card, the Galaxy tallied their final score in the 69th minute when McBean placed a penalty kick inside the right post for the 4-1 win.

Chivas USA return to MLS play this Sunday when they travel to face Western Conference rival Seattle Sounders FC in an 8 p.m. (PT) match at XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The match will mark the second of three meetings between the sides this season and can be heard in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM. For more information visit cdchivasusa.com and follow us on Twitter @cdchivasusa and Facebook.com/chivasusa.

Chivas USA 1-4 LA Galaxy

Scoring Summary
LA – Laurent Courtois (Chandler Hoffman) 6’
LA – Chandler Hoffman (unassisted) 9’
CHV – Bryan de la Fuente (Jose Manuel Rivera) 10’
LA – Chandler Hoffman (unassisted) 53’
LA – Jack McBean (PK) 69’

Misconduct Summary:
CHV – Oswaldo Minda (red, foul) 59’
CHV – Bryan de la Fuente (yellow, foul) 61’
LA – Michael Stephens (yellow) 87’

Lineups

Chivas USA
Patrick McLain, Emilio Orozco, Marvin Iraheta, Jaime Frias, Josue Soto, Bryan de la Fuente, Jose Manuel Rivera, Oswaldo Minda, Julio Morales, Jose Correa (Aaron Ponce 40’), David Izazola (James Izazola 65’)

Subs not used: Jake Mcguire

LA Galaxy
Brian Rowe, Oscar Sorto, Leonardo (Kofi Opare 70’), Tommy Meyer, Greg Cochrane (Bryan Gaul 70’), Michael Stephens, Kenney Walker, Rafael Garcia, Laurent Courtois (Colin Clark 67’), Chandler Hoffman (Charlie Rugg 58’),Jack McBean (Raul Mediola 78’)

Subs not used: Haji Wright, Eric Lopez

Referee: Magic Berenji
Referee’s Assistants: Omar Meza, Luis Gutierrez
Fourth Official: Christopher Calderon

De la Fuente looking to return to Chivas

Almost three years ago, forward Bryan de la Fuente was signed by Chivas USA as the club’s fourth Homegrown Player in its history. After only one appearance with the First Team under then head coach Martin Vasquez, de la Fuente was released.

On Monday morning, de la Fuente returned to the StubHub Center’s Field 6 and put on a Chivas USA jersey for the Red-and-White’s Reserve League match against cross-hall rivals the LA Galaxy.

“I felt good. It’s always good to come back where I started my professional career. I feel happy to be back, not about the result, but I feel happy that they’ve [Chivas] given me another opportunity. I’ve been playing with the U23’s for a few weeks already, so when they called me to ask if I could come and help them, I was very happy about that,” de la Fuente told cdchivasusa.com after the Reserve League game.

Last Saturday, de la Fuente notched one goal for Chivas USA’s U23 Team as they finished the Regular Season undefeated. Come Monday, de la Fuente found the back of the net once again in the Red-and-White’s 4-1 loss to the LA Galaxy in the Reserve League. The goal was something that, aside from the loss, motivates him to continuing pursuing his return to the First Team.

“Wherever you are and you score, it’s a motivation, especially in the first opportunity they give you. It doesn’t matter if it’s with the first team or the reserves or U23’s, etc; it’s always good to show what you have. Today, I got to score the only goal so I feel happy about that,” de la Fuente added.

Since joining Chivas USA’s U23 Team in mid- June, de la Fuente has scored two goals (three in all competitions). Last Saturday, the young Red-and-White squad finished the Regular Season undefeated with a 7-0-1 record (W-L-T). Up next for the team is the Semifinal round set for Saturday, Aug. 3, in San Luis Obispo.

“We’re a really small group, but we have done a good job. I haven’t been with them since the beginning of the season, but I’m adjusting well, they’re a great team,” de la Fuente said about the U23 Team. “Our mentality right now is in the playoffs. We’re champions of the conference and now we’re going to face the other conference and hopefully we win that too.”

Split squad training session kicks off work week for Chivas USA

Those Chivas USA players not participating in Monday’s Reserve League match against the LA Galaxy took to the pitch at 9 a.m. to begin their practice week ahead of their Western Conference clash on Sunday at Seattle Sounders FC.

The group consisted of approximately a dozen players and kicked off with ball distribution for warm-ups, with each member serving passes to their teammate at short distances. Afterwards the squad – under the instructions of Head Coach Jose Luis Real – broke out into a four-on-eight possession drill. With four attacking players in the middle, a four-man line in front and behind the attackers would keep possession of the ball inside a tactical box.

The session on the pitch concluded with a team jog around the field and stretching before the players headed to the gym to work on their strength training with weights.

The Goats will return to their work week on Tuesday morning at the StubHub Center’s Field 6.