Chivas aim to close preseason on high note

CARSON, Calif. -- After two tough matches against San Jose and Chicago last week, Chivas USA will seek redemption Friday night in their final preseason tuneup, when they take on Houston Dynamo at The Home Depot Center. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.

The Dynamo come to southern California with an impressive preseason record, losing only twice in nine games.

"Houston's a tough team," said striker Justin Braun. "They're always hard to play against, but we're going to come out and be tough to play against too."

Of particular concern for the Red-and-White will be in-form striker Brian Ching, whose 13 goals last season put him fifth in the league. Much of the responsibility of dealing with the powerful forward will fall to Carey Talley, the Red-and-White's defensive veteran.

"I think Ching is a player that I'm well suited to defend," said Talley. "I'm sure we'll be battling for balls the whole game."

Talley will most likely get the start Friday, and the absence of new signing Ante Jazic, will see him assume a leadership role in the back line. Jazic picked up a small knock in practice and will probably sit out the Dynamo match.

Trialist Mariano Trujillo will also see some time on the backline against Houston. Trujillo comes to Chivas USA by way of the Mexican Primera Division, where he has played for 13 years with such teams as Pumas, Santos and Morelia. He appeared most recently for Atlante.

Trujillo has made two appearances for the Mexican national team, scoring one goal. He was also a teammate of new signing Eduardo Lillingston on the Mexican under-20 national team that played at the 1997 FIFA Youth World Championships.

Chivas USA head coach Preki views the Houston game as a chance to do some final tinkering on the lineup that will start the season next week against the Colorado Rapids.

"We want to put a group on the field that we would feel comfortable using at the start of the season," said Preki. "We hope that everyone's sharp and that everyone has a good game."

Although Chivas USA has had a tough time with MLS competition in preseason thus far, confidence in the Red-and-White camp is high.

"We're in good spirits," said Carey Talley. "We're confident in the people that we put on the field and, whoever ends up playing, we can expect a good level of soccer to be played."