Tigres, Chicago win in SuperLiga openers

CARSON, California (AP) - Mexico's UANL Tigres used a youth team to record an away win while the Chicago Fire won at home in the opening games of the 2009 North American SuperLiga on Saturday.

Tigres B- the lower-league affiliate of the senior team - won 2-1 at Chivas USA after the hosts were reduced to 10 men, while Chicago downed Mexico's San Luis.

Armando Pulido scored Tigres' opener in the 11th minute, but Chivas equalized 10 minutes into the second half through midfielder Michael Lahoud.

Chivas' Eduardo Lillingston, a Mexican forward who used to play for Tigres, was sent off in the 67th minute for his second yellow card.

Tigres capitalized on that advantage in the 82nd minute via Jesus Duenas. Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton blocke Pulido's shot and Duenas was on hand to knock in the rebound.

"The team's attitude didn't surprise me," Tigres assistant coach Carlos Turrubiates said. "We're a young group, but we're very strong as a group and we were very prepared."

Meanwhile, Chicago notched an opening victory thanks to a goal by former Fulham striker Brian McBride.

McBride fired a pass from Mexico international striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco into the upper left corner of the net.

"It was a great finish. Credit Cuauhatemoc on a play," Fire head coach Denis Hamlett said. "He chased a guy down, which he normally doesn't do, and made a play out of that. He hit a left-footed shot. It was a great finish."

Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch preserved the victory with a shot from Marvin de la Cruz in the 87th minute.

"It was a well-disputed match for us. It took a little bit for us to get started," San Luis technical director Juan Antonio Luna said. "One personal mistake cost us the goal. Games are won by scoring goals, and we didn't score tonight."

This is the third staging of the SuperLiga, a competition for U.S. and Mexican clubs, secondary to the CONCACAF Champions League.