CHIVAS PAYS FOR CELEBRATION.

Its centenary celebrations mean an awful lot to Club Deportivo Guadalajara, the iconic Mexican club that counts L.A. as a second home. Sunday's ``friendly'' against European champion Barcelona, which drew more than 92,000 to the Coliseum, was -- horrid field conditions aside -- an appropriate showcase for so storied a franchise.

The atmosphere was electric, especially once Barca's Ronaldinho took the field for the second half, and Chivas gave an admirable performance, snatching a 1-1 draw on a late Diego Martinez header in a match that largely played out like the preseason prep it was.

But there were murmurs of dissatisfaction from Guadalajara's locker room afterward. As officials basked in the glow of a tremendous event, players bemoaned the sacrifice necessary for such a display. Come November, this celebration might be thought of as Vergara's folly. Forced to play twice in one day 2,000 miles apart, Guadalajara (and Chivas USA) owner Jorge Vergara decided the first team would battle mighty Barcelona and reserves -- possessing a starter, maybe two -- would take on Toluca in the Mexican Primera Division's Torneo Apertura opener.

Toluca, which won the Apertura last year and figures to contend again this year, knocked off Guadalajara 1-0 -- its coach, Americo Gallego moaned that it wasn't 2-0 or 3-0 -- in the more important match, leaving Chivas three points behind the leaders after the first of 17 league games.

Points are at a premium in the Primera Division, in which parity reigns and the fight for eight playoff berths is mammoth, usually undetermined until the final game of the final round. Guadalajara missed the playoffs in last year's Apertura, then pushed through to the final eight during the spring Clausura tournament. The loss at Toluca could be the difference when the regular season closes Nov. 12. Chivas' top players understand this, and several indicated they would rather have spent the centenary in Toluca.

The celebrations aren't finished. Chivas USA, the MLS club affiliated with Guadalajara, is staging a 100-hour match -- Chivas vs. Rest of the World, it's billed, with various celebrities and teams taking part (each representing Chivas or the World) -- at the Bell Gardens Sports Center. The game starts Wednesday at 1 p.m. and wraps up Sunday at 5 p.m. It should have no bearing on Guadalajara's postseason hopes.

Reyna, McBride, now Pope: Era over

Add Eddie Pope to the list of retiring national-teamers. The Real Salt Lake center back, a U.S. mainstay since 1998 and key performer in the Americans' run to the World Cup quarterfinals four years ago, wraps up his international career with 82 ``caps'' and nine appearances in three World Cups.

Pope, like Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride, who earlier announced the end of their international careers, was a pivotal figure during the Bruce Arena era, setting standards at their positions as the Americans rose following the 1998 disappointment to become a force in the international game. As Reyna surely is the finest player to wear a U.S. uniform, Pope is the greatest of U.S. defenders, a solid notch above Marcelo Balboa and Paul Caligiuri, both Southern Californians, and two ahead of Alexi Lalas, now the Galaxy's president and general manager, at his best.

Pope, a 32-year-old from North Carolina, might have been among the U.S. stars in Europe, but he always has been fragile, and he chose the comforts of home when Italy came calling a decade ago. His presence bolstered Major League Soccer, but there's no telling how good he might have been with Serie A experience.

He's lost a step, and frequent injuries have taken a toll, and a year ago it all appeared over. His offseason work and solid play in early preparations for the World Cup secured his spot in Germany, and at his best, Pope remains a regal figure in the back.

But he wasn't at his best in Germany, like many of the U.S. players, and deserved to exit in happier circumstances. His finale: the red card, for two yellows, in the 1-1 draw with Italy in Kaiserslautern.

Pope's successor as backline leader, Oguchi Onyewu, is a different sort of defender: bigger, faster, stronger -- more terrifying for opposing attackers, as Jan Koller might testify -- but so young and in need of Pope's know-how and experience.

When he retires, a decade or so from now, Onyewu -- the son of Nigerian immigrants -- likely will be lauded as the greatest defender in U.S. history.

Unlike Pope, Onyewu headed to Europe first chance he got, leaving Clemson following his sophomore season to sign with France's FC Metz. He joined Standard Liege two years ago and has evolved into one of the Belgian League's finest central defenders.

It seems time for bigger things, but Onyewu isn't ready to move. Standard turned down an offer from Brussels-based Anderlecht, the Beglian champion, and Onyewu nixed a move to English Premier League side Middlesbrough.

There has been rumored interest elsewhere -- notably Manchester United -- but Onyewu has pledged to remain at Standard, runner-up to Anderlecht last season, until at least January.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) Defender Diego Martinez scored Guadalajara's goal in the 83rd minute to forge a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in a packed Coliseum.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(2) EDDIE POPE

Box:

(1) 5 TO WATCH

(2) Etc.