ADDITIONS GIVE CHIVAS USA A MAKEOVER MEXICAN STARS PALENCIA, GARCIA PROVIDE EXPANSION CLUB NEEDED CREDIBILITY.Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer The credibility Chivas USA has been craving might finally have arrived. The Major League Soccer expansion club, which has struggled through its first season, winning just three of its first 24 games - posting the worst record in the league - significantly altered its makeup last week with the additions of four Mexican players. Two of the newcomers - former Mexican national-teamer Francisco Palencia Juan Francisco Palencia Hernández (born April 28, 1973 in Mexico City) is a Mexican football striker, currently playing for UNAM Pumas in the Primera División de México. Biography and budding national-teamer Juan Pablo Juan Pablo is a common Spanish given name. It is the equivalent of "John Paul" in English or "Jean-Paul" in French. Some famous people with this name:
It spawned centerpiece stories by Mexican newspapers Esto and Record, and at the team's arrival at Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX following the game, Palencia and Garcia were hounded by television camera crews from Univision and Televisa. The team, clearly outclassed out·class tr.v. out·classed, out·class·ing, out·class·es To surpass decisively, so as to appear of a higher class. Adj. 1. all season, played superbly in the first half against the Metros, and the additions of the Mexican stars could provide respect - and increased attendance - from Southern California's Mexican community, the market Chivas USA has targeted since its launch last year. Defensive midfielder Hector Castro and goalkeeper Sergio Garcia also joined Chivas USA following the Aug. 15 opening of FIFA's international transfer window, giving the club nine Mexicans on a 28-man roster. The most important addition is a 32-year-old pony-tailed forward who sports blue fingernails and is simply known as ``Paco'' to his countrymen. Palencia scored twice in the first 22 minutes of his MLS See multilevel security. debut. He also received a taste of MLS refereeing, which led to two MetroStars penalty-kick goals and five minutes of stoppage time stoppage time Noun Chiefly Brit same as injury time , enabling the home side to salvage a tie. ``For me and the team, it was a good result,'' Palencia said. ``But it doesn't feel like a positive. ``I think it was a complicated game, we played against a good team who played their share of good football but Chivas USA has been working real hard and I think we demonstrated that on the field. ``I didn't like (the refereeing) because of the way the fouls were called, and (referee Michael Kennedy
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy (February 27, 1958 – December 31, 1997), was the sixth of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy. ) added five minutes on, and I don't think it was that much added. The league has improved over 10 years, and the refereeing also needs to improve.'' Garcia, 23, also enjoyed a fine debut, scoring a 39th-minute goal to give Chivas a 3-1 halftime lead. Palencia and Garcia provide the kind of firepower fire·pow·er n. 1. The capacity, as of a weapon, weapons system, military unit, or position, for delivering fire. 2. The ability to deliver fire against an enemy in combat. Noun 1. and notoriety owners Jorge Vergara and Antonio Cue had in mind when when they brought Chivas USA, affiliated with Mexican giant Club Deportivo Guadalajara Club Deportivo Guadalajara, also known as Guadalajara and usually referred to by its nickname Chivas (Goats), also referred to as the All Mexican Team is a Mexican sports club. , to join MLS. It might be a little late to salvage the season - Chivas is 3-17-4 with eight games left - but the additions provide the team a foundation to build on for next season and give the fan base bona fide [Latin, In good faith.] Honest; genuine; actual; authentic; acting without the intention of defrauding. A bona fide purchaser is one who purchases property for a valuable consideration that is inducement for entering into a contract and without suspicion of being Mexican stars to support. ``Regardless (of how we finish the season), we're going to close this season strongly and give ourselves something to build on for the following preseason,'' said Cue, also the club president. ``We made mistakes, and we were wrong on some things, but we are committed to this long-term project.'' And it appears that Palencia and Garcia are committed. ``It's another challenge in my life,'' Palencia said. ``I came from a big team in Mexico, and I want to make Chivas the best team in MLS. It's a challenge in life that comes once, and I want to take it.'' Palencia, who arrives from CD Guadalajara
Coach Hans Westerhof Hans Westerhof (born November 24, 1948 in Terborg) is a Dutch soccer coach. As a player, Westerhof played for BV Veendam and BVO Cambuur of the Dutch First Division. said adding the pair wasn't just necessary to the team's credibility, but also to its survival in MLS. ``We analyzed the team two months ago, and for us, it was clear that we were not good enough to play an important role in this competition,'' the Dutchman said. ``I think that the team has improved a lot since the beginning of the season and now that we have acquired these new players, the team has a lot more confidence which makes us a very competitive team in MLS.'' With the reinforcements, Chivas USA seems to have a renewed confidence. ``I think that we all know what we're capable of, and I feel that we've become more confident and morally strong,'' Garcia said. ``It allows us to play the kind of football we've been practicing, which is priority. ``Our goal is to win the rest of our games and hopefully make it to the playoffs. But if not, these last games will help us become a better and more competitive team next season.'' Fred Robledo, (626) 962-8811 fred.robledo(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Chivas USA's newcomers are, from left, Sergio Castro, Hector Castro, Francisco Palencia and Juan Pablo Garcia. Rich Schultz/WireImage Box: CHIVAS USA at FC DALLAS FC Dallas is a professional soccer (football) club based in Frisco, Texas, that participates in Major League Soccer. The club was known as the Dallas Burn from 1996 to 2004. The initials "FC" stand for Football Club. |
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