A squad of Club Deportivo Chivas USA players and special invitees fell 0-1 on Saturday to Mexican First Division side Tigres in the first-ever exhibition match for the new Mexican-owned franchise that will open play at The Home Depot Center in April 2005.
The visitors from Monterrey managed their only goal of the match -- played at Club Deportivo Guadalajara's "La Primavera" training center outside Guadalajara -- in the second half, when José de Santiago's shot from inside the penalty area was redirected by the Red-and-White defense.
Tigres head coach Leo Álvarez used his first team for the initial 45 minutes, with Claudio Suárez, Hugo Sánchez Guerrero and Omar Briceño in the back; Antonio Sancho, Irenio Soares, Javier Saavedra and Walter Gaitán at midfield; Nestor Silvera and Jesús Olalde up top; and young goalkeeper Jair Urbana in the nets.
"You can never be satisfied with a loss," said Club Deportivo Chivas USA Head Coach Thomas Rongen. "But if you look at where we are in our preparation, and where Tigres are at, it was certainly a good finish to a solid two weeks here in Guadalajara. Though I'm not happy with the result, I thought we played good football and I am pleased with the effort of our guys."
Rongen and Assistant Coach Javier "Zully" Ledesma, presented the following lineup:
Martín Zúñiga - Orlando Pérez, Hugo Rivera, Antonio de la Torre - Omar Aguayo (Gabriel García, 2nd half), Ramón Ramírez, Ricardo Sánchez (Arturo Torres, 2nd half), Francisco Mendoza (Daniel Velázquez, 2nd half) - Alonso Sandoval, Isaac Romo, Matt Taylor.
Chivas USA's squad will regroup in 2005, following the holidays and Major League Soccer's January break. Players are to report February 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, where they will commence final preparations for the team's MLS debut in April 2005.
