Reserves: Chivas USA and Portland Timbers Draw 2-2

Chivas USA's reserves tied the Portland Timbers 2-2 Monday in MLS Reserve League play at the Home Depot Center complex. It was a back and forth affair, as the Timbers went ahead twice and Chivas came back twice. Portland opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a goal from Sebastian Rincon off a run through the Goats' defense. Chivas tied the match in the 29th minute when Casey Townsend received a low cross from Scott Gordon and slotted it in, but Portland came back and Brent Richards put the visitors up in the 58th minute as he made another run to beat the defense. Finally, Chivas leveled the score again in the 69th minute when Laurent Courtois sent a cross into the box and Sebastian Stachnik headed the ball for the second goal. The result gives Chivas a 2-1-2 record in the MLS Reserve League this season.

Wait, Sebastian Stachnik? Yes, the German forward/winger has been on trial with Chivas since last week. He's spent time in the lower divisions in Germany and Holland, playing most recently for Helmond Sport in the Netherlands. He's also spent time with Kaiserslautern, but when they were in the 2nd Bundesliga. By my count, Chivas have one international slot open, and there have recently been rumors they've gone back to the Colombian well in looking to add a new player when the transfer window opens, but perhaps Stachnik will make the grade and sign in MLS if his trial is successful.

Here was the starting lineup for Chivas in today's match: Tim Melia, Jorge Villafana, Bobby Burling, Nelson Akwari, Scott Gordon, Marky Delgado, Paolo Cardozo, Tiago Luzardi, Eric Gonzalez, Casey Townsend, Ben Spencer

On twitter, beat writer Adam Serrano noted that Melia played very well today in goal - certainly good news after a somewhat shaky performance against the Carolina RailHawks in the U.S. Open Cup.

Burling is apparently still on trial with the team, as is Luzardi, and both players played in last week's reserves win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Akwari is an MLS veteran, but he's most recently played for the LA Blues. It is unclear if the defender is on trial or if he was just brought in as a local "guest player" for this match.

Gonzalez and Spencer are of course members of the Chivas Youth Academy and have extensive experience with the senior reserves at this point.

The subs for the match were Courtois for Cardozo and Stachnik for Luzardi to start the second half, Ryan Smith for Spencer and Anthony Dheming for Villafana in the 68th minute, and John Valencia for Gordon in the 71st minute. Dheming is also a member of the Chivas Youth Academy and has been training with the reserves for some time. He's also apparently a bright guy, if his SAT scores are any indication.

The next reserve match will be next Monday against the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Home Depot Center complex.

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