Chivas Usa

Even by Union standards, this was a busier than usual day at the office. One that included their first multigoal game of the season, another questionable officiating decision, more defensive lapses, and a trade rumor concerning the team captain. Other than that, things weren't too out of the ordinary for a Union, who lost to the New York Red Bulls, 3-2, in Sunday's Major League Soccer match at PPL Park in Chester. The Union are now 2-6-1 and not much has gone well, but this was by far their best offensive showing and not just because they increased their season total to seven goals - or two fewer than New York striker Thierry Henry, who missed his third straight match with a hamstring injury.

What: Union (1-3-1, four points) at Chivas USA (3-3-0, nine points) When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Where: Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. TV: The Comcast Network On the web: Streaming online at MLSSoccer.com About the Goats: Chivas has hit its stride and is coming off a pair of road wins against Portland and Toronto FC. However, the Goats are still looking for their first home win of the season. . . . Chivas will be without star forward Juan Pablo Angel, who has missed the last five matches with a concussion.

JUAN PABLO ANGEL'S goal in the 90th minute lifted Chivas USA to a 1-1 draw with the Union last night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Union (10-7-14, 44 points) had taken the lead in the 59th minute when Justin Mapp found space in the Chivas midfield and fired a shot from the edge of the box that was too much for goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Freddy Adu was credited with an assist on the play. It was Mapp's third goal of the season. After pressuring the Union at the end of the match, Chivas got the tying score when Mike Lahoud connected with Angel, who was able to head the ball into the net. It was Angel's seventh goal in seven games with Chivas.

CARSON, Calif. - An opportunity for the Union to regain first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference disintegrated with just seconds left to play Sunday night. Chivas USA's Juan Pablo Angel scored in the 90th minute to force a 1-1 tie that kept the Union in second place with three games to play. "It definitely stings," said midfielder Justin Mapp, who scored the Union's goal. "We let two points get away, and, obviously, things are very tight in the playoff race.

Danny Califf is going back to California. At his weekly news conference Wednesday at PPL Park in Chester, Union boss Peter Nowak ended the speculation surrounding the stalwart defender and team captain. Pending Major League Soccer approval and other paperwork, the 32-year-old Califf, a California native who started his pro career with the Galaxy, is headed back to Los Angeles via a trade to Chivas USA in exchange for a player to be named and cash. "We are still in the process of concluding [the deal]

The Union continue to show improvement, earning a point on the road over the weekend as they get ready for a steady diet of games at PPL Park. Saturday's 1-1 tie against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., improved the Union's Major League Soccer record to 3-7-2. The road record is now 1-7-1, but the next four MLS home games will be at PPL Park. The Union were coming off a 3-1 win June 27 in the opening of PPL Park, which was their best performance of the season.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Union (10-7-13, 43 points) at Chivas USA (8-12-11, 35 points) Sunday, 8 p.m. Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. TV: The Comcast Network. Last MLS game: The Union scored a 3-2 win over visiting D.C. United on Thursday. Chivas USA was a 3-0 winner over visiting Toronto FC on Sept. 24. Outlook: This is an almost must-win game for Chivas USA, which likely has to win its final three games to remain in playoff contention.

Danny Califf is going back to California. At his weekly news conference Wednesday at PPL Park in Chester, Union boss Peter Nowak ended the speculation surrounding the stalwart defender and team captain. Pending Major League Soccer approval and other paperwork, the 32-year-old Califf, a California native who started his pro career with the Galaxy, is headed back to Los Angeles via a trade to Chivas USA in exchange for a player to be named and cash. "We are still in the process of concluding [the deal]

AT THE end of the Union's Sunday matinee with Red Bull New York, Danny Califf was still a member of the franchise. That might not be the case by the time you read this. The Union has entertained a pair of offers from Chivas USA for its captain, according to Union manager Peter Nowak. The Union rejected an initial offer and Chivas then made a counteroffer that the Union is currently weighing. Rumors of a potential move hit the blogosphere Saturday, and following Sunday's match, much of it was brought to light.

Even by Union standards, this was a busier than usual day at the office. One that included their first multigoal game of the season, another questionable officiating decision, more defensive lapses, and a trade rumor concerning the team captain. Other than that, things weren't too out of the ordinary for a Union, who lost to the New York Red Bulls, 3-2, in Sunday's Major League Soccer match at PPL Park in Chester. The Union are now 2-6-1 and not much has gone well, but this was by far their best offensive showing and not just because they increased their season total to seven goals - or two fewer than New York striker Thierry Henry, who missed his third straight match with a hamstring injury.

WITH THE second of three matches in a week span starting on Wednesday for the Union, there is very little time to go back to the drawing board, as they say. Although it wouldn't hurt. The club comes off its second loss in a row with Saturday's 1-0 result against Seattle. Against a 22-year-old goalkeeper making his first MLS start in Seattle's Brian Meredith, the Union registered just one shot on goal. It also marked the 12th league game dating back to October of last season in which the Union (2-5-1, seven points)

What: Union (2-4-1, seven points) at Seattle Sounders FC (5-1-1, 16 points) When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Where: Century Link Field, Seattle TV: NBC Sports Network On the web: Streaming at MLSSoccer.com About the Sounders: Seattle sits third in a tightly contested Western Conference and hosts the Union following a 2-0 win against the conference rival Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday....

Major League Soccer is expected to announce Tuesday or Wednesday that Union manager Peter Nowak must serve a one-game suspension for leaving the manager's box and entering the field of play during Saturday's 1-0 win over Chivas USA. The Union improved to 2-3-1 with the victory. Any coach who is ejected must serve a "one-game suspension in the club's next match in the corresponding competition," according to MLS disciplinary guidelines. Nowak is expected to miss Saturday's home game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

MLS IS EXPECTED to announce Tuesday or Wednesday that Union manager Peter Nowak must serve a one-game suspension after he left the manager's box and entered the field of play in Saturday's 1-0 win over Chivas USA. MLS disciplinary guidelines state that any coach who gets ejected must serve a "one-game suspension in the club's next match in the corresponding competition. " Nowak is expected to miss Saturday's game against San Jose (7 p.m., Comcast SportsNet). Additionally, Nowak must watch the match from suite level and will not be able to speak to the team before and during the game including halftime, and cannot talk to players or coaches during the game.

The Eagles and Union are planning to announce a major soccer event will return to Lincoln Financial Field this summer. What's unsure is if the blockbuster contest will be part of the annual World Football Challenge set to return to the United States in July. Debuting in 2009, the WFC is a tournament between some of the world's best teams competing against each other and MLS franchises across the country. Last year, the Union hosted Real Madrid at the Linc in a WFC match.

IN A MATCH where first-half discipline was replaced by second-half lunacy, the Union gutted out a 1-0 road victory over West Coast foe Chivas USA. Saturday night's win was the club's second in a row, but due to a pair of red cards, the Union (2-3-1, seven points) will be without two key players heading into Saturday's match against San Jose (4 p.m., Comcast SportsNet) at PPL Park. A nifty backheel from Freddy Adu in the box, after some clever moves by midfielder Michael Farfan to create space for a low cross in Adu's direction, put the Union ahead 5 minutes before halftime.

The Union held on for its second consecutive victory Saturday despite two red cards in the second half, edging Chivas USA, 1-0, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Freddy Adu's goal in the 40th minute proved to be the difference as goalkeeper Zac MacMath and the Union defense extended their shutout streak to 332 minutes. Following an opening 40 minutes that featured few scoring opportunities, the Union (2-3-1) got things started with a series of dribbling moves by midfielder Michael Farfan that led to a cross into the middle.