Chivas falls in SuperLiga opener; Up next: Santos / Chivas cae ante Tuzos, recibe a Santos Laguna este miércoles

On the opening day of SuperLiga 2008 Group B action, Chivas USA fell 2-1 on Sunday night to reigning SuperLiga champion Pachuca CF, just three days after Chivas’ electric 1-1 tie with the LA Galaxy in Carson.
Ante Razov opened the scoring for the Red-and-White in the 16th minute, but Pachuca would come from behind on first-half goals from Bruno Marioni (23’) and Gabriel Caballero (42’)
Chivas USA captain Claudio Suárez’ 8th-minute spot kick, after a Fausto Pinto handball in the penalty area, clanged against Miguel Calero’s right post, denying Chivas an early lead.
Sacha Kljestan also hit the woodwork for the Red-and-White, in a spirited match played in front of 14,528 fans at The Home Depot Center.
En su debut en un torneo internacional, Chivas USA cayó por 2-1 ante Pachuca, actual campeón defensor de la SuperLiga y campeón de la CONCACAF, el domingo por la noche en El Home Depot Center de Carson.

El delantero de Chivas USA, Ante Razov, puso adelante al conjunto rojiblanco. Sin embargo, Pachuca se levantó y le dio la voltereta al marcador con anotaciones de los argentinos Bruno Marioni al minuto 23 y Gabriel Caballero al minuto 42.

El defensa de Chivas USA, Claudio Suárez, falló un penalti al minuto 9 de acción.

Francisco Mendoza declaró lo siguiente después del partido: "Siento que es un marcador un poco engañoso porque en los primeros minutos siento que el primer tiempo tuvimos las oportunidades más claras de gol, pero igual sabíamos de antemano de la capacidad y de la contundencia que tienen los equipos mexicanos. Entonces, en lo personal, nos vamos tristes, nos vamos descontentos, pero igual rescatando lo mejor que hicimos en tener el balón bien… siento que en el partido hicimos bien las cosas. Pero la verdad nos vamos tristes porque no merecimos perder".

With GK Brad Guzan awaiting approval for his British work permit to complete a transfer to Aston Villa, 22-year-old rookie ‘keeper Lance Parker got his first start for Chivas USA, making 5 saves. Chivas USA Head Coach Preki, on the match: “I am extremely proud of the way we played tonight. I thought from the first moment we were solid. Actually, for the first 20 minutes we were very good with the ball, we were moving the ball, creating chances. The penalty kick hit the post, Sacha hits the crossbar, even Ante hits the crossbar on the goal, so it was like one of those nights. We barely squeezed that ball across the line, but after that even when we were winning 1-0, I thought we were solid. … We felt like we left everything on the field. It was a difficult game the other night against the Galaxy, but I felt like we were maybe a step slower, not as sharp as we could have been if we didn’t play that game. But there’s no excuses. It was a good game and I am disappointed that my group didn’t get at least a point.” (For a full quote sheet, please visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/.)
A million dollars is on the line as the Red-and-White look to advance from Group B when they face Mexican champions Santos Laguna this Wednesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center. For tickets or more information on SuperLiga 2008 and Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1, visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/ or contact Chivas USA Communications.
Chivas USA ahora enfrentará a Santos Laguna, actual campeón de México, en un encuentro de vida o muerte, en la segunda jornada del Grupo B de SuperLiga 2008. Ambos, Santos Laguna (0-1 ante la Revolución de Nueva Inglaterra) y Chivas USA viene de respectivas derrotas en sus primeros partidos del torneo.





PHOTOS: JUAN MIRANDA/CHIVAS USA