*Chivas USA not only made the San Jose Earthquakes look really good tonight in a 3-0 loss replete with the same old errors (what the hell was that giveaway in your own half that led to a goal, Michael Lahoud?) that have characterized their season to forget, they also handed Chris Wondolowski an easy hat trick and allowed him to pull level with the Galaxy’s Edson Buddle for the MLS scoring title.

BTW, Mr. Buddle you might want to blame the Chivas USA PR staff who led with this item in their game preview:

In order to win the Budweiser Golden Boot, Chris Wondolowski will need to score three goals and add two assists in the Quakes’ last two games – and hope that LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle does not register on the scoresheet against FC Dallas on Sunday.

Reporter Elliott Almond of our sister paper the San Jose Mercury News has the details.

Both of Chivas USA’s starting central defenders, Michael Umaa and Yamith Cuesta, were subbed out with injuries. Cuesta exited in the 62nd minute with a left knee injury and was replaced by Jonathan Bornstein, while Umaa strained his right hamstring four minutes later and was replaced by Sal Zizzo. The Red-and-White finished the game with a back four of Mariano Trujillo, Ante Jazic, Bornstein and Jorge Flores.

Still, I almost felt sorry for MLS pool goalkeeper and Cal State Northridge product Kevin Guppy, deputizing for Zach Thornton in the Chivas USA net, who was rested.

Notable: Midfielder Paulo Nagamura set a record for the most appearances in MLS by a Brazilian. Nagamura has played 145 games in MLS, including 87 appearances for Chivas USA. The remainder came with the Galaxy and Toronto FC.

Quotable:

“The result hurts… but right now what hurts more is losing two guys to injuries,” said Chivas USA Coach Martin Vasquez. “Obviously it’s something that can happen, but it’s a concern…. We were playing against a good team and we were doing well; unfortunately we couldn’t hold on to at least a point.”

Chivas USA lineup: Kevin Guppy, Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umaa (Sal Zizzo 66), Yamith Cuesta (Jonathan Bornstein 62), Ante Jazic, Marcelo Saragosa (Jess Padilla 46), Michael Lahoud, Paulo Nagamura, Rodolfo Espinoza, Jorge Flores, Justin Braun

*Fontana’s Maurice Edu had an eventful night at either end of the field for Glasgow Rangers in their UEFA Champions League game Tuesday against Valencia.

First, he scored a first half goal at the right end of the field to make it 1-0 Rangers (AP Photo).

Then he scored a second half goal at the wrong end of the field to make it 1-1 (AFP Photo).

Edu sounded bemused by both goals.

*The No. 8-ranked UC Irvine men came from behind to beat Cal State Northridge (2-10-2, 1-4-1 BWC) 2-1 Wednesday at Matador Field.

Matadors Coach Terry Davila had this to say after the game: