ESPN Deportes 2005 Major League Soccer Telecasts.

ESPN Deportes will begin its inaugural season of Spanish-language coverage of the 2005 Major League Soccer season with the live telecast of the league’s first intra-city rivalry featuring the Mexican-owned Club Deportivo Chivas USA at the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the home field for both teams on Saturday, April 23 at 10 p.m. ET.

ESPN Deportes 2005 MLS schedule will feature nine regular-season matches and two MLS Playoffs matches, primarily on Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. ET. Throughout the season, ESPN Deportes will televise five matches featuring Chivas USA, the new MLS Mexican-owned expansion franchise based in Los Angeles led by former Mexican national team star Ramon Ramirez.

ESPN Deportes Live, On-Site Coverage for Chivas USA @ La Galaxy April 23

ESPN Deportes will feature live, onsite productions of several programs including SportsCenter, Futbol Picante, and Cronometro, as well as a pregame show – the first time-ever in Major League Soccer history that a Spanish-language network produces four shows from on-site prior to the MLS match. ESPN Deportes primary host position will be in the Southeast Plaza inside The Home Depot Center; SportsCenter, Futbol Picante, Cronometro and the pre-game show will originate from the same location.

ESPN Deportes will also have a selection of its top commentators and announcers onsite to call all the action.

— Commentator team: Veteran ESPN Deportes commentator Luis Omar Tapia (play-by-play) and soccer legend Daniel “el Ruso” Brailovsky will call all the action. Joining them will be Mexico National Team Assistant Coach and legendary goalkeeper Jorge Campos.

— Cronometro, (5 p.m., PT, 8 p.m. ET.) – An innovative, sports news, information, and debate program devoted to the discussion of headline issues surrounding Latino sports stars. Hosted by Luis Alfredo Alvarez the show will include a core group of panelists featuring ESPN broadcasting veterans Andres Agulla, Eduardo Varella and Ernesto Jerez.

— Futbol Picante, (5:30 p.m., PT, 8:30 p.m., ET.) – will feature all the latest news and information in Mexican soccer, with Heriberto Murrieta, Ciro Procuna, Argentine soccer legend Mario “Matador” Kempes, Daniel “el Ruso” Brailovsky and Jorge Campos.

— SportsCenter, (6:00 p.m., Pacific Time, 9 p.m., ET.) – latest news and information with Heriberto Murrieta and Ciro Procuna.

— Pre-game Show (6:30 p.m., PT, 9:30 p.m., ET.) – Heriberto Murrieta, Jorge Campos and Mario “Matador” Kempes will provide analysis, predictions, and commentary on the game.

— Chivas USA @ Los Angeles Galaxy (7 p.m., Pacific Time, 10 p.m. ET) – ESPN Deportes Luis Omar Tapia (play-by-play) with commentary and analysis from Daniel “el Ruso” Brailovksy and Jorge Campos.

— ESPNDeportes.com: ESPN’s Spanish-language website, will also offer comprehensive news and information throughout the match. The site will have a dedicated team of journalists covering the game from on-site. Highlights include real-time scores and statistics, game re-cap and box scores, pre-match and post-match analysis and interactive chat sessions hosted by ESPN Deportes commentators and Major League Soccer players.

ESPN Deportes Major League Soccer Schedule: (All Times Eastern)

DATE – TIME – TEAMS
Saturday, April 23 – 10 p.m. – Chivas USA @ Los Angeles Galaxy
Saturday, May 21 – 4 p.m. – New England Revolution @ MetroStars
Saturday, June 4 – 4 p.m. – Chivas USA @ Chicago Fire
Saturday, June 25 – 10 p.m. – Los Angeles Galaxy @ San Jose
Earthquakes
Saturday, July 23 – 4 p.m. – DC United @ Los Angeles Galaxy
Saturday, August 6 – 6 p.m. – Chivas USA @ Real Salt Lake
Saturday, August 13 – 4 p.m. – Chivas USA @ DC United
Saturday, September 18 – 2 p.m. – Real Salt Lake @ FC Dallas
Saturday, October 16 – 4 p.m. – MetroStars @ Chivas USA
Saturday, October 23 – TBD – MLS Cup Playoffs
Saturday, October 30 – TBD – MLS Cup Playoffs