After 35 weeks of competition, Chivas USA’s season comes to an end at home on Saturday night against conference foe the Portland Timbers. Heading into the third and final leg of the season series, the Red-and-White will look to equalize last season’s number of seven wins with a victory while preventing the Timbers from celebrating possibly clinching the Supporters’ Shield on their pitch.

Portland enters the match two points behind Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls, who each have 56, and in the hunt to secure the coveted trophy. RSL concluded their regular season against Chivas on Wednesday, but the Red Bulls still have one remaining game and could automatically clinch the shield with a win over the Chicago Fire on Sunday. Should New York lose, it could open the door for Portland to step in and claim the shield if they win at the StubHub Center.

VIDEO: Chivas USA vs Portland Timbers Preview

The sides last met in Carson in September with the Goats opening the score sheet in the first half on a header by midfielder Bryan de la Fuente. The Timbers responded with the equalizer in the second half and the conference rivals had to settle for a point apiece. The Goats will be looking to not only play spoiler, but to come away with a win to secure a split in the series and remain unbeaten at home all-time against Portland.

Chivas have been solid at home of late, having secured three wins and three draws in their last eight contests as hosts. One of the keys for securing the home result will be containing the play of Portland’s attackers such as Ryan Johnson, and Rodney Wallace, in addition to Diego Valeri, who has tallied against the Rojiblancos in their last two meetings. Valeri delivered the equalizer in September and contributed with a goal in the 3-0 shutout at Jeld-Wen Field in May during the first leg.

SEE: Click here to view the match’s Game Guide

Portland could be facing the third different goalkeeper against Chivas this season, as the Red-and-White started back-up Patrick McLain in the sides’ first meeting in the Northwest while Dan Kennedy sat out due to a red card suspension. In the rematch at the SHC, Kennedy took his customary place between the posts in 1-1 draw, but this time around it could be Tim Melia who replaces the captain, should he need more time to recover from an abdominal injury he is nursing. The keeper situation will be a game-time decision for the Goals. If the former All-Star does not get the call, Melia will be the likely option to step in between the posts for the second consecutive match.

Melia started his first match of the season at RSL on Wednesday, which marked the New York native’s third career start. The fourth-year net minder did a solid job filling in for the former All-Star, recording four saves. Regardless of who starts in goal, the Goats will have to possess effectively and prevent Portland’s attack from consistently getting into dangerous spots in the attacking third or creating threats with balls over the top.

Saturday’s match will mark the eighth all-time meeting in the young series and is scheduled to kick off a 7:30 p.m. (PT). The contest will be televised live in English on KDOC-TV and in Spanish on MundoFox 22. Match action can also be followed in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM.

Preview: Action continues within the Development Academy

Chivas USA’s First Team might be concluding their Major League Soccer season, but the Red-and-White Youth Development Academy continues to work in their respective leagues. The following is a preview of this weekend’s action.

Coast Soccer League

On Saturday morning, Chivas USA’s U15 team will open the weekend’s action facing HG Eagles Soccer Club at 8 a.m. (PT) at the University of California, Irvine’s Field 3. The Red-and-White are coming off a difficult loss, having fallen 5-2 to LA Premier FC last weekend. Meanwhile, HG Eagles come off a 2-2 draw with Valley United Dema. A win for the Red-and-White will help the team move up in the standings, even more knowing that they will have another chance just a day after. Having a double-match weekend, the Red-and-White will host FC Golden State Premier on Sunday at 3:45 p.m. (PT) at UCI’s Field 1.

Following the U15’s match on Saturday, the Red-and-White U13s will be looking to extend their two-game unbeaten streak as they face FC Man United at 9:45 a.m. (PT). The young Goats are coming off a 1-1 draw with FC Golden State Platinum, while their future rivals defeated FC Deportivo Panteras 2-0 in last week’s action.

Closing Saturday action for the Coast Soccer League, Chivas USA’s U23 Team will be fighting to regain once again their victorious streak as they host Doxa Italia at 7 p.m. (PT) at the Bell Gardens Sports Complex Turf Field. For the first time in 15 games, the U23 Team fell 2-1 in last week’s match against Pomona United. On the other hand, Doxa Italia are coming in with a 2-1 win over So-Cal Real FC. Last weekend’s loss dropped the Red-and-White down to the second spot in the standings, but the team still remains above Doxa Italia who is currently ranked in the fourth spot.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy

After last weekend’s SuperClasico, Chivas USA’s USSDA teams will host Arsenal FC this Saturday in Bell Gardens Sports Complex’s Field 5.

Up first, the Red-and-White’s U18 Team will be looking to build on last weekend’s strong second half performance where the squad earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy. Just last week, Arsenal FC defeated Strikers FC with a lone goal in the match. This Saturday’s match is set to kick-off at 9:30 a.m. (PT).

At noon, both U15/16 squads of Chivas USA and Arsenal FC will face each other in a must-win match. After starting off the season on the right foot, the young Red-and-White squad took a blow as they saw fell 6-0 to the LA Galaxy. It was a rough game for the U16 squad, but their upcoming rival also had a rough time as they also took a loss, falling 3-2 to Strikers FC.

Concluding the day in USSDA action, an unbeaten U14 squad will host a struggling Arsenal FC at 2:30 p.m. (PT). While the Red-and-White earned a 2-2 draw in last weekend’s SuperClasico, Arsenal fell 3-0 to Strikers FC.

Chivas USA put the final touches heading into season finale

Chivas USA concluded their second and final day of preparation ahead of Saturday’s season finale against Western Conference rival the Portland Timbers at the StubHub Center. Having played on Wednesday at Real Salt Lake, the Rojiblancos have a short turnaround time before jumping back into League action against the second-place team in the conference.

After holding a brief video session, the team took the pitch at approximately 9:45 a.m. and teamed up in groups of two for initial warm-ups by sending short passes to one another. The group then moved on to the bulk of the work by competing in an 11-on-11 tactical scrimmage that ran nearly the length of the pitch under the instructions of Head Coach Jose Luis Real. The pitch was divided in three areas for optimum instruction and tactical purposes.

The session then shifted to competition in reduced with a six-on-six drill with a keeper at each goal. After competing in both drills for about an hour, the group completed their morning with a cool-down session and a group stretch.