Chivas USA Saturday Gameday (and U.S. Women Win)
First off, the U.S. Women defeated Japan 1-0 overnight at the Olympics.
USC's Amy Rodriguez got her surprise first start of the Olympics over Natasha Kai. Here's Coach Pia Sundhage on why she made the move:
"The reason for A-Rod instead of Kai was her speed. That was crucial when we looked at the way Japan plays. We talked about playing them both, but if you look at the game today, Angela Hucles, her possession and her game today was good ... We didn't want to play them both at the same time, but that is an option of course, depending on who we play."
Back in the U.S., Chivas USA (6-7-4) plays at 5 p.m. in Kansas City on Prime.
The team is without Coach Preki (suspended) for the second consecutive game and defender Claudio Suarez (concussion).
Panchito Mendoza, the lone Chivas USA player left from that horrible first season now that Brad Guzan has gone to England's Aston Villa, will play his 100th game for the club today. He becomes the first Chivas USA player to reach that milestone.
The game preview is here.
Not so coincidentally, the Wizards (5-6-7) are using the opportunity to reach out to Latino fans.
The Wizards have had trouble scoring this year. The top scorer: defender Jimmy Conrad with four goals.
In other Chivas USA news:
*Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen has been called into the United States Under-20 Men's National Team for a five-day camp that runs Sunday through Thursday and includes two games against Guatemala. Mayen had previously been with the Under-20 team in April.
*Think you're the next Jorge Flores? Chivas USA is hosting two open tryouts this month, one from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 22 for adults, the other a mini-camp that runs from Aug. 29-30 and doubles as a tryout for the Under-18, Under-16 or Under-15 youth teams at the Bell Gardens Sports Center.
Register at the club's Web site or by e-mailing tryouts@cdchivasusa.com
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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