NO SUPER RESULT FOR CHIVAS SOCCER: GOATS OUTPLAY PACHUCA FOR MOST OF FIRST HALF, BUT LOSE THEIR SUPERLIGA OPENER. PACHUCA 2, CHIVAS USA 1.

Byline: Phil Collin

Staff Writer

CARSON -- One question was answered rapidly Sunday night: Chivas USA could indeed outplay one of Mexico's better teams.

The next response from Chivas would be to display the same talent for carrying the fight for an entire match.

Pachuca, the defending SuperLiga champion, recovered from a shaky start to outlast Chivas 2-1 in front of 14,528 at Home Depot Center in the Goats' opening game of this year's tournament.

By the 16th minute, Chivas had a 1-0 advantage that could have been 3-0 if not for shots that caromed first off the crossbar and then off the post.

"For the first 20 minutes we wer every good with the ball moving the ball, creating chances," Chivas coach Preki said. "Even when we were winning 1-0, I felt we were solid, we didn't give anything away. And then, out of nothing, the referee decides to give a silly free kick away, what I think was the changing point of the whole game night."

Preki was clearly ready to debate a foul and yellow card handed to defender Pancho Mendoza, who tangled with midfielder Paul Aguilar near the end line.

What followed was the first of two pinpoint passes by Pachuca's Gerardo Rodriguez. His service from the right of the Chivas goal found its way to Bruno Marioni, who redirected the pass into the net while sneaking past defender Claudio Suarez in the 23rd minute.

"I didn't think it was a foul," midfielder Jonathan Bornstein said. "I was right behind him and I thought he got all ball and the guy was just kind of in the way. ... (The game) might be different if it doesn't get called.."

It was the first game for Chivas without goalkeeper Brad Guzan, whose transfer to Aston Villa is imminent.

Guzan's replacement -- at least for Sunday's game -- was a surprise. Preki chose 22-year-old Lance Parker over Dan Kennedy, who strained a ligament in his right knee in a reserve game this week. Parker last saw action as part of the Colorado Rapids' under-23 team of the Premier Development League last summer.

Parker made five saves -- including four difficult stops in the second half -- and was given the lead thanks to an Pachuca error.

Chivas' Atiba Harris cruised down the right wing and crossed the ball in front of the goal and defender Leobardo Lopez nonchalantly tried to clear it. The ball landed on the foot of Sacha Kljestan just inside the penalty area and he quickly passed to Ante Razov, who buried it for a 1-0 Chivas lead.

It could have been a rout in Chivas' favor at that point. In the third minute, Bornstein dashed in and crossed to Kljestan, who took a step to his right and took an open shot that bounced off the crossbar.

In the ninth minute, Chivas was awarded a penalty kick when defender Fausto Pinto, trying to outjump the taller Harris for a header, was cited for a deliberate hand ball inside the box. Suarez shot the penalty kick left as goalkeeper Miguel Calero lunged in the opposite direction, but the shot hit the goal post.

In the 42nd minute, Gabriel Caballero headed a perfect pass from Rodriguez past Parker, giving Pachuca the decisive goal.

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CHIVAS

WEDNESDAY vs. Santos Laguna, 7 p.m., Home Depot Center.

TV: TeleFutura.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein drives the ball up the field Sunday against Pachuca.

(2 -- color) Chivas USA's Ante Razov gets taken down just outside the penalty box during Sunday's SuperLiga contest against Pachuca.

Scott Varley/Staff Photographer