BY MIKE DONOVAN
Chivas USA has reached an agreement to show its remaining nine games on local television with the majority of them to be shown in both English and Spanish.
The Goats have spent the season without a local television deal but that changed Wednesday when the club announced that seven of its matches will be shown in English on KDOC-TV. All of the club’s final nine 2013 matches will also be shown in Spanish on MundoFox22 or Univision.
While Chivas has had its games on local radio this season, Sunday’s match with Vancouver marks the first match this season on local TV.
Here are some more news and notes from around the Western Conference:
COLORADO RAPIDS
On Tuesday, Rapids Homegrown defender Davy Armstrong underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. Armstrong, who had been playing for Phoenix FC on loan, suffered the injury on Aug. 10 against the Charleston Battery.
According to the club, Armstrong’s recovery is expected to be approximately six months. The 21-year-old became the Rapids first-ever homegrown player when he was signed in 2010 and has played just four minutes in league play in his four seasons with Colorado.
FC DALLAS
Peter Luccin, who was sidelined with an ACL injury in February, is hoping to make his return to the field before the end of the season. The 34-year-old French midfielder has been training with the club’s youth academy and he believes he can help Dallas before the year is over.
“I am very confident that I can make it back and contribute this season,” Luccin told the club’s website. “There are eight games left in the MLS season. I would like to make it back for the final few games of the season and help FC Dallas qualify for playoffs.”
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
David Beckham, who helped lead the Galaxy to two MLS Cups in his six seasons in LA, joined the club for training on Tuesday. The 38-year-old English midfielder retired from soccer four months ago and has spent the majority of that time in Southern California.
“It was fun. He’s great. It brings a good karma to the group,” head coach Bruce Arena told the club’s website. “It’s always wonderful to see David. It was great for the years that he was here and the fact that he still stays in touch is very important to our team and our organization.”
PORTLAND TIMBERS
Due to suspensions and injuries, the month of August has taken its toll on the Timbers, who have been without four central midfielders for parts of the month. Diego Chara was suspended for the club’s 1-0 loss with Seattle while captain Will Johnson, Ben Zemanski, and Jack Jewsbury have all missed time with injuries.
Johnson has been listed officially by manager Caleb Porter as “day-to-day” since he injured his shoulder Aug. 3 in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Real Salt Lake.
“I mean he’s got a broken bone in there and it’s very sore,” Porter told the Oregonian. “He’s not quite ready yet. He’s doing fitness, but obviously that’s not the same as playing in a real game where you’re banging guys and falling.”
REAL SALT LAKE
RSL forward Alvaro Saborio is likely to be a game-time decision for the club’s Friday night match with the Portland Timbers. The Costa Rican, who leads the club with nine goals, has missed the last two matches while dealing with a hamstring injury.
“We were really hopeful it would be a short-term injury,” head coach Jason Kreis told the the Salt Lake Tribune. “We’re hopeful that he’ll be available for Friday, I think right now it’s 50-50 still.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Two San Jose Earthquake fans were arrested Wednesday by U.S. Marshals in connection with an April attack on a Portland Timbers fan prior to a match between the two clubs. The two suspects were booked into Santa Clara County Jail and will be extradited to face multiple charges which include assault, criminal mischief, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, harassment and disorderly conduct.
According to KATU, a Portland TV station, the two suspects are members of the 1906 Ultras. Portland Police have identified other suspects in the case and more charges could be filed.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Blair Gavin, who signed with the Sounders last week, was close to retiring from soccer after being involved in a car accident prior to the 2013 season.
“When I got in the accident and hurt my back, it just kind of felt like the whole world was against me,” Gavin told the club’s website. “I thought the easier way would just go and maybe start coaching or go back to college. It was a lot of soul searching and I fought through it and trained hard and kept going, and now I’m here. What else can I ask for?”
Gavin was scheduled to join the Sounders for their preseason training camp in January but was unable to due to the accident.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Despite missing Saturday’s match with the LA Galaxy and not training fully Wednesday, Vancouver is hopeful that leading scorer Camilo Sanvezzo will be able to take the field Sunday against Chivas USA.
“Right now, we’re just ramping him up. Obviously, it’s quite a few days until Sunday. I fully expect him to be available, but you never know,” head coach Martin Rennie told the Vancouver Sun.
One player who will definitely be out for Sunday’s match is Nigel Reo-Coker, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.