Chivas,Tigres begin SuperLiga campaigns

Red-and-White competing in tournament for second consecutive season

Eduardo Lillingston, who leads Chivas with six goals, played in the Mexican League last year. (Getty)

• Tigres take SuperLiga 2009 trophy on PKs
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• Tigres top Fire in PKs for SuperLiga title

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REFEREE: Walter Quesada (CRC)
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Leonel Leal (CRC); Osvaldo Luna (CRC)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Alejandro Mariscal (USA)

Chivas USA begins play in SuperLiga for the second consecutive season when they take on Tigres UANL at The Home Depot Center. Tigres are making their first appearance in SuperLiga but have still known success in competition in the USA, winning the 2005 and 2006 editions of Interliga, the FMF Primera Division qualifier for the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.

CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA are participating in SuperLiga for a second consecutive year. In the 2008 competition, they split with Mexican clubs Pachuca (a 1-2 loss) and Santos Laguna (a 1-0 win), but went out of the competition after drawing 1-1 with the New England Revolution. Chivas come into SuperLiga tied for the best overall record in Major League Soccer with Western Conference rivals Houston Dynamo, though losing their last two league games. The Red-and-White defense has been the hallmark of the club, its 12 goals conceded second-fewest in MLS. Goalkeeper Zach Thornton has seven shutouts, tied for the league lead. Mexican striker Eduardo Lillingston, who came to the club to begin the season, leads Chivas with six goals.

TIGRES UANL
After a 2-5-7 record in last year's Clausura tournament when they conceded 26 goals and finished fifth in Group 3, Tigres have bolstered their defense with the addition of two players on loan from Club América, Argentinean Fernando Ortiz and U.S.-born Edgar Castillo, as well as a third defender in José Alfredo González Tahuilán, who came from San Luis. Midfielder Javier Saavedra and Gastón "Gata" Fernández have also returned to the club, while Tigres picked up midfielder David Toledo from Pumas and forward Itamar Batista from Jaguares. Tigres reached the liguilla in the Apertura, losing to Toluca - who had a better regular season record - alter the teams played to a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

STATE OF PLAY
The other two teams in Group A -- the Chicago Fire and San Luis -- began their 2009 SuperLiga campaigns in the first match on June 20 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. On June 23, all four teams will face off in a doubleheader at Toyota Park, with the two MLS sides playing each other, and the two Mexican sides meeting. Then on June 27, Chicago will face Tigres UANL in Bridgeview, while Chivas USA will entertain San Luis at The Home Depot Center.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Chivas USA made their international debut as a club in last year's SuperLiga, defeating Club Santos Laguna and losing to CF Pachuca. Tigres UANL have never faced an MLS club in official competition.