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Vancouver starts over against Chivas USA

May 31, 2011 - 10:33 PM Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC made an immediate impact in Major League Soccer, but since debuting with a 4-2 win over Toronto FC on March 19, the expansion club has failed to win a match.

Coach Teitur Thordarson paid the price Monday, as he was fired just 12 matches into the season. Whitecaps FC will turn to director of soccer operations and former D.C. United boss Tom Soehn for Wednesday's visit to Chivas USA.

Soehn helped United win the 2007 Supporters' Shield for the top regular-season record and won the U.S. Open Cup in 2008, but was fired last year. Soehn makes his Whitecaps debut at The Home Depot Center, as Vancouver tries to end an 11- game winless run.

"Tommy brings extensive experience in Major League Soccer, and in the past year, has immersed himself in the culture of our club," Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi said.

Soehn will have an opportunity to start off a crucial month for Vancouver, as the club plays six times during the month. However, the first three games are on the road, with trips to Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC to follow.

Vancouver (1-5-6) will be without three players because of international duty, as midfielder Terry Dunfield is with Canada, defender Michael Boxall is with New Zealand, and winger Nizar Khalfan is with Tanzania.

Chivas (3-4-4) also lost two players to New Zealand, as both Andrew Boyens and Simon Elliott were called up for matches against Mexico and Australia. The duo will also miss a match against the Portland Timbers this weekend.

"It's always an honor and I love playing for my country," Boyens said on the league's website. "Unfortunately this time around, the two games that I play with New Zealand land on the two games for Chivas."

Chivas USA will also be without Alejandro Moreno due to international duty and Jorge Flores is suspended, leaving four holes to fill against Vancouver.

Chivas manager Robin Fraser has had a little more success than Thordarson. The Goats lost their first two games of the season under the first-year coach, but came on strong, going a stretch of seven matches with just one loss.

That streak included three wins and three draws, and in its last nine matches, Chivas is solid with a 3-2-4 mark.

Soehn faces a tough debut, but with five of the team's six matches this month on the road, he has to find a way to get Vancouver to win on the road. So far, Vancouver has lost four of its five games on the road and the other was a tie.