Well, that was awful.

Chivas USA looked like a team that had studied their CONCACAF Champions League opponents Tauro FC of Panama on the airplane ride down (ahem) going down 2-0 tonight in their preliminary stage two-game series.

Chivas USA did everything wrong.

They gave away a soft early goal, applied pressure, but failed to capitalize, and then swooned on the second (where exactly was Panchito Mendoza?).

Good thing no one cares about the tournament because at this rate Chivas USA won’t make the first round proper. Will even free parking attract fans for Tuesday’s return leg? Chivas USA need to win by three clear goals (3-0, 4-1, etc.) to reach the next round.

The Chivas USA lineup: Zach Thornton, Jonathan Bornstein, Claudio Surez (Jim Curtin, 45′), Shavar Thomas, Francisco Mendoza, Kraig Chiles (Lawson Vaugh, 62′), Paulo Nagamura, Daniel Paladini (Alecko Eskandarian, 45′), Jorge Flores, Sacha Kljestan, Atiba Harris.

Game story.

New England also lost, BTW, 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago team Joe Public.

For those who can’t get enough Fox Soccer Channel has Montreal Impact-Real Esteli (Nicaragua) at 5 p.m. Wednesday followed by Costa Rica’s Alajuelense against the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL.

In college soccer action Tuesday, the No. 3-ranked UCLA women beat UC Santa Barbara 2-1 in their season opener.

Olympic stars Lauren Cheney and Kara Lang sat out the match.

Over at USC, Olympian Amy Rodriguez, fellow senior Ashley Nick and junior Kristin Olsen have been added to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2008. The trophy is awarded to the nation’s top female college player annually.

USC beat San Diego 1-0 over the weekend in their season opener with a goal four minutes into stoppage time.

Finally, Fontana’s Maurice Edu could make his Glasgow Rangers debut – Sunday in the Old Firm derby against Celtic. Yikes!