Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Chivas USA’s firesale of non-hispanic players continues.
Chivas USA dealt former University of Maryland forward Casey Townsend to D.C. United on Friday, a little more than a year after selecting him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. In exchange for Townsend, the Goats received a second-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
“We were quite surprised that Casey was available for a trade and we pounced on it,” D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said in a statement issued by the club. “He is an exciting striker who brings a ton of energy to the attack, and we think he will be a great fit with our side. He is very happy to return to the D.C. Metropolitan area and we are equally excited to bring him back.”
In his rookie season in 2012, Townsend started 10 of the 17 games he appeared in and scored one goal and added two assists.
For Chivas USA, the trade is the latest piece of business to move non-Hispanic players from their roster. Others who have departed this offseason under new head coach Jose Luis ‘El Chelis’ Sanchez’s watch are Nick LaBrocca and Danny Califf.
Here are more notes from around the league:
RAPIDS ACQUIRE ELOUNDOU VIA LOTTERY
Cameroonian striker Charles Eloundou was unable to participate in the recent MLS Player Combine because he did not secure a visa in time, but that did not stop him from attracting teams within the league and eventually finding a new home. Eloundou was snatched up by the Colorado Rapids on Friday morning in a special lottery held at MLS headquarters. The 18-year-old, who is currently with Cameroon’s national team ahead of a friendly versus Tanzania on Feb. 6, will join the Rapids in the coming weeks.
“This is an exciting acquisition for the Rapids, getting a player who has attracted attention from top clubs in Europe,” Rapids technical director Paul Bravo said in a club statement. “He’s got great pace, strength and skill, and at just 18 he’s already in the set up for the full national team of Cameroon. We’re looking forward to welcoming him into our squad.”
Eloundou joins the Rapids on a one-year loan deal from Cameroon outfit AS Fortuna. The deal comes with an option to buy.
Real Salt Lake and D.C. United also partook in the lottery for Eloundou.
REVOLUTION SIGN FORWARD HORTH
The New England Revolution added another weapon to their arsenal, signing forward Matt Horth to an undisclosed deal. Horth, who has been in preseason camp with the Revs following a training stint last fall, joins the club after having played for NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks since 2011. Last year, the 23-year-old scored 10 goals for the struggling Silverbacks.
“We’re pleased to add a young forward in Matt to the roster,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement released by the club. “He is a talented young player who had a strong record of scoring goals in the NASL. We believe he has the potential to take the next step and do well for our club.”
DYNAMO PROLONG SPANISH-RADIO BROADCAST DEAL
The Houston Dynamo will continue to have Spanish radio broadcasts, as they reached an agreement to extend their current deal on Friday. The Dynamo renewed their current contract with Liberman Broadcasting Corp., agreeing to a three-year deal with the company that has broadcasted Dynamo games since 2006. The new deal includes airing broadcasts of all regular-season and playoff games.
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What do you think of Chivas USA’s trade of Townsend to D.C. United for a second round pick? Expecting Eloundou to make a splash in MLS in 2013?
Share your thoughts below.