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MLS Ticker: Farfan loaned to Chiapas; Salinas, Stewart sign new contracts; and more

GabrielFarfanChivasUSA1-LAGalaxy (ChivasUSA)

By DAN KARELL

Gabriel Farfan, like his brother Michael, will be playing in Liga MX this season.

Less than a year after trading what ended up to be the No. 2 overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for Farfan, Chivas USA announced that they sent Farfan on loan to Chiapas FC in southern Mexico. The deal is a six-month loan with an option to buy.

Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

After being acquired by Chivas USA last May, Farfan went on to make 14 appearances, including ten starts. Prior to the trade, Farfan spent a little more than two seasons with the Union, playing in 53 games and scoring two goals with three assists.

Here are some more stories from around MLS:

EARTHQUAKES DUO SIGN NEW CONTRACTS

Two San Jose Earthquakes players received some good news this preseason.

The club announced on Monday that they’ve signed both midfielder Shea Salinas and defender Jordan Stewart to new contracts. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Salinas, 27, was one of MLS’ top playmakers in 2013, finishing with two goals and eight assists in 28 games. Salinas sent the famous pass that Alan Gordon headed home in the California Clasico match played last season at Stanford Stadium. Stewart meanwhile played 12 times with the Earthquakes last season after signing with the club in July.

According to numbers provided by the MLS Players Union, Salinas earned a base salary last season of $93,975 with total compensation of $100,000 and Stewart earned a pro-rated salary of $108,000.

RAPIDS TOP DYNAMO, TIMBERS TIE SPORTING KC IN PRESEASON ACTION

Though many teams are working solely on fitness, a handful of teams were in action this past weekend.

In a scrimmage taking place at the Houston Dynamo’s training complex, the Dynamo fell to the Colorado Rapids, 3-2, as Rapids Designated Player Gabriel Torres scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

The Rapids opened the scoring in the 12th minute through midfielder Dillon Serna but three minutes later, the Dynamo tied the game as on-loan midfielder Tony Cascio took a deflected shot that went in. The Dynamo took a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute through Giles Barnes but the Rapids stormed back with two second half goals from Deshorn Brown and then Torres to win.

On Saturday evening in Tucson, Ariz. the Portland Timbers faced Sporting Kansas City in a Desert Diamond Friendly match, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Sporting KC took the lead in the 31st minute as former Timbers midfielder Sal Zizzo latched onto a free kick from Claudio Bieler and finished. The game took a turn for the worse for Sporting KC two minutes later when Aurelien Collin was shown a second yellow card.

The Timbers finally equalized in the 84th minute, with first round draft pick Schillo Tshuma lobbing the ball over the head of Sporting KC goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.

UNION COME TO TERMS WITH FORMER CREIGHTON GOALKEEPER

Zac MacMath and Andre Blake will have more competition in training this season.

The Philadelphia Union signed their third goalkeeper on Monday, inking former Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt to a contract after a trial period. Holt previously played for PDL club Reading while in college and the Union’s USL Pro affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders in his first professional season in 2012.

“Brian is a tremendous competitor and we have seen a lot of his dedication, hard work and resolve while he trained with us last year,” Union head coach John Hackworth said said in a statement. “We’re really happy to have him as part of our team going into the season.”

The Union’s press release says Holt spent much of last year and this preseason training with the Union, despite not being signed to a contract.

IMPACT HIRE NEW ASSISTANT COACH KOUNENAKIS

Under the management of Frank Klopas, the Montreal Impact are putting the finishing touches on their coaching staff.

The club announced on Monday that they have hired Greek-native Nikolaos Kounenakis to be an assistant coach this season. Kounenakis, 36, was previously an assistant coach with OFI Crete in the Greek Super League and holds a UEFA Pro License.

“I’m very happy to add Nikos to our group,” Impact head coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. “He will bring a wealth of experience as a former player who then worked as a coach. He will complement the staff that we have. It’s a fantastic addition for us.”

Kounenakis spent half of 2010 with Sporting Kansas City, though was released at the end of the year without making an appearance. The South African-born former player speaks fluent English, Greek, and Dutch.

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What do you think of these reports? Surprised to see Farfan move to Mexico? Like the Salinas and Stewart signings? What did you think of the early-season play of the Timbers, Sporting KC, Dynamo, and Rapids?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Good news re: Salinas and Stewart! Actually, technically, Salinas did send a pass to Gordon on the first goal he scored at Stanford; Sam Cronin sent the “famous pass” (though Salinas passed it to Cronin).

    Reply
  2. Real question – does Chivas USA even have enough players to field a first team and reserve team in 2014?
    There are only 20 players on their roster on their website. Are they really going to try and play an entire MLS season with only 20 players?

    Reply

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