Chivas Tries to Land 1-2 Punch
The anticipation for the debuts of Francisco Palencia and Juan Pablo Garcia with Chivas USA has been similar to the wait by movie fans for a summer blockbuster. Enticing previews have been seen, but opening night couldn’t come soon enough.
Finally, the curtain rises tonight for the pair against the MetroStars at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The players, who have trained with the team for nearly a month, had their entrances delayed until the international transfer window, which reopened six days ago.
“I hope to help get the team out of the bottom of the [standings] and help get us victories as soon as possible,” Palencia said Friday at a news conference in New York introducing the players. “I’m fine; I’m fit, healthy and mentally prepared.”
Chivas USA Coach Hans Westerhof said he expected to see a new product on the field.
“First of all, they add experience,” he said. “They’ve played many years in the top divisions in Mexico. They’ll also add creativity and I think that’s what we need.”
Palencia and Garcia are expected to start tonight. They will be looked upon to quickly provide offense for Chivas USA, which has struggled to a 3-17-3 record in its inaugural season.
Palencia, 32, a two-time World Cup veteran and aggressive midfielder, and Garcia, 23, a forward who is considered a budding star, look to revitalize a team that has been beset with injuries.
“It’s just like a new start,” Westerhof said. “You can see it in everybody that we need it. It’s a new opportunity to show our fans we can be competitive.”
Defender Ezra Hendrickson said the players have already been welcomed by the team.
“I think they’re definitely going to help,” Hendrickson said. “[Palencia] is an established player up front who should be able to help us with our scoring, and Garcia should be able to aid us too.”
Also joining the team are goalkeeper Sergio Garcia, who will begin as a backup to Brad Guzan, and defender Hector Castro.
“I think he can challenge Brad,” Hendrickson said of Garcia. “And the more competition we have at that position will be better for the team.”
Westerhof said he’s satisfied with Guzan’s play.
“He’s done a good job,” the coach said. “It’s important for both of them to have competition, but there’s no reason for us to change.”
With nine games remaining, it might be difficult for Chivas USA to make a substantial jump in the standings. However, the team is looking to end its inaugural year with momentum that will carry over to next season.
“We’ll play better,” Westerhof said. “Hopefully, we’ll win the rest of our games, but that’s not easy. Until the day it’s impossible, we’ll fight for [playoff] qualification.”
*
CHIVAS USA TONIGHT
at MetroStars, 3 p.m. PDT
Site -- Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, N.J.
Radio -- 830.
Records -- Chivas USA 3-17-3, MetroStars 8-7-8.
Update -- This is Chivas USA’s first game against the MetroStars. Defender Ezra Hendrickson is expected to play, despite suffering a right quadriceps injury that forced him to miss his first start of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to D.C. United. On Monday, the team released defenders Alfonso Loera, who had started nine games, and Aaron Lopez, who played 238 minutes. Defender Douglas Sequeira was selected by MLS to play in Tuesday’s friendly against Real Madrid in Spain. The MetroStars, in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, are riding an eight-game home unbeaten streak. Forward Ante Razov is expected to sit out a month after having surgery for a hernia, and defender Chris Leitch is suspended for accumulating too many caution points.
