Chivas USA 0 Canada Under-23 2
Chivas USA signed Argentine midfielder Marcos Mondaini, seen here playing today against the Canadian U-23 team (Photo courtesy Chivas USA).
Chivas USA remains a work in progress.
That was clear today as Chivas USA fell to a Canadian Under-23 team that played better as a unit than their opponents.
Chivas USA is trying to build from the back, but the defense was found wanting on two occasions.
The first goal came from a 25-yard free kick by Russell Teibert, University of Denver product Drew Beckie connecting with a glancing header unmarked into the bottom left corner. Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ghanian-born Randy Edwini-Bonsu, 20, got the second in the 84th minute with a smartly struck volley, the dish freezing the Chivas USA defense.
There was little in the way of Chivas USA offense, Jesus Padilla having the best chance with a second half shot he sent wide of the post from eight yards.
“I think today our final pass, our final third, really let us down,” said Chivas USA central defender Jimmy Conrad. “The lack of killer pass really hurt us and that’s something we’ll focus on.
“I’m cautiously optimistic we can show the best side of ourselves come the first game of the year … We have a few games to continue to work out the kinks and to figure out what our best XI is going into the last few games of the preseason.”
Chivas USA Lineup: Zach Thornton (Sergio Arias 31, Dan Kennedy 60); Heath Pearce (Jorge Flores 60), Michael Umaa ( Andrew Boyens 71), Jimmy Conrad, Zarek Valentin (Omar Elmasri 72); Simon Elliott (Daniel Castro 72), Mariano Trujillo (Artur Aghasyan 72), Francisco Mendoza (Bryan de la Fuente 72), Marcos Mondaini (Gerson Mayn 46), Alan Gordon (Alejandro Moreno 46), Tristan Bowen (Jess Padilla 46)
Notes:
*The club announced today it has signed Argentine Marcos Mondaini, 26, a product of the Boca Juniors youth system on loan from Centro Atltico Fnix of Uruguay. The first-ever Argentine to sign for Chivas USA, who will receive number 23, – there’s no Michael Jordan or David Beckham connection – played most recently in Columbia with Atltico Nacional in Medillin where he had four goals in 26 games last year.
“Marcos is a dynamic attacking player and will fit well into the system that we’re working to implement,” said Coach Robin Fraser. “He’s got experience in some of the top leagues in South America and we think he’ll help us score some goals this year.”
“I like to be a playmaker,” Mondaini said. “But I have no problem playing other positions.”
*Chivas USA announced today it has waived defender Carlos Borja of Anaheim, who had four starts last year.
*Ben Zemanski and Blair Gavin remain out with hamstring injuries, while Brazilian midfielder Paulo Nagamura hasn’t played since the Arizona training camp with a calf strain. Striker Justin Braun hopes to resume playing by the time Chivas USA plays UCLA this Saturday.
*Ghanian defender Seth Owusu, 22, is still awaiting a visa before joining the club.
