Galaxy, Chivas USA to open 2013 MLS season at home

The Galaxy will open defense of its second consecutive Major Soccer League title on March 3 when it opens the season against the Chicago Fire at the Home Depot Center. It will be the earliest regular-season opener in franchise history.

The Fire also made the playoffs last season, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference with 17 wins. But it lost its postseason opener to the Houston Dynamo, the Galaxy’s eventual opponent in the MLS Cup final earlier this month.

Chivas USA, the Galaxy’s roommate at the Home Depot Center, will also open its 34-game regular season that weekend, playing host to the Columbus Crew on March 2.

The Crew missed the postseason by a single point last season while Chivas suffered through a disastrous seven-win season that concluded with a franchise-record 14-game winless streak.

That led to the dismissal of Coach Robin Fraser, much of his staff and the entire front office.

Next year’s opener will be the team’s first game under new coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, who twice led Puebla to the quarterfinals of the Mexican league playoffs.

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