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Chivas USA has turned to an MLS veteran to fill the void left by Brad Guzan’s transfer to Aston Villa.
The Goats have acquired Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls for future considerations. The trade was announced late Friday.
Thornton had yet to play a first-team match for the Red Bulls this season but has looked sharp in training all year and has played well in exhibition matches. It was just this week that I pointed out how sharp Thornton has looked in training.
No word yet on what the Red Bulls will do for a back-up goalkeeper. The club could recall Danny Cepero from his loan at USL-2 side Harrisburg. Rookie Caleb Patterson-Sewell is the only other current goalkeeper on the Red Bulls roster along with starter Jon Conway. If the Red Bulls recall Cepero from his loan deal then the Thornton trade will free up a senior roster spot for the Red Bulls, who are searching for as many as two new forwards.
Chivas USA now has a veteran to challenge and potentially start in place of inexperienced goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who has one career MLS start to his record, as compared to Thornton’s 217 career starts. With Guzan’s transfer to Aston Villa being completed today, Chivas USA was desperate to add a veteran shot-stopper.
The trade also reunites Thornton with former Chicago Fire teammates Jesse Marsch and Ante Razov. All three were key figures on the Fire’s 1998 MLS Cup title team. Coincidentally, Chivas USA travels to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday. The Red Bulls have a bye week.
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