Chivas tie Tauro FC, lose aggregate

CARSON, Calif. -- Luis Moreno's 63rd-minute goal was enough for Tauro FC to sink Chivas USA's CONCACAF Champions League dreams as the Panamanian side tied the hosts 1-1 at The Home Depot Center on Tuesday.

Moreno clinched the series with his goal as Chivas USA's Champions League effort ended at the preliminary stage, eliminated 3-1 on aggregate after Tauro's 2-0 win in Panama City last week.

Roberto Nurse scored late in the first half after Chivas earlier missed a penalty, then the Red-and-White were left with 10 men after Jonathan Bornstein was sent off after picking up his second yellow card six minutes into the second half. Justin Braun nearly put a goal away in the 12th minute but Tauro's defense stood firm. Sacha Kljestan knocked in a corner kick that Tauro goalkeeper Willington Dominguez tried to parry away. The ball instead fell to Braun who immediately fired a shot on goal. Although Dominguez was well off his line, defender Leonel Parris leapt and headed the ball over the crossbar.

Chivas USA squandered a great opportunity in the 22nd minute. Roberto Nurse darted into the penalty area but Tauro's Dominguez knocked Nurse down. Referee Mauricio Navarro immediately pointed to the spot and Kljestan walked to the spot. Kljestan though hit the ball right to Dominguez and the Panamanian goalkeeper easily knocked the ball away.

Harris nearly broke the scoring drought in the 36th minute but he slammed a header from inside the six-yard box off the crossbar.

Moments later, Jonathan Bornstein picked up Chivas USA's first yellow card of the match.

It was Nurse who finally got the first goal of the match. In the 42nd minute, Bornstein whipped a cross into the area. Braun knocked the ball down and Nurse, with his back to the goal, spun and fired a shot on goal, and tucked it into the inside of the net.

For Nurse, the goal was his first in a Chivas USA uniform. It also marked a bit of a special moment for him. The Mexico City native was born to a Mexican mother and Panamanian father. Nurse did not play in last week's match in Panama so Tuesday was his first opportunity to play against the team from his father's homeland.

The tide changed somewhat early in the second half. Jonathan Bornstein picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 51st minute and Chivas USA were left with 10 men. Four minutes later, Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian replaced Nurse and Braun.

With a man up, Tauro FC began to push forward and break out of their defensive shell. Their efforts paid off in the 63rd minute. Moreno danced around Chivas USA's defense and banged a shot off the left post. The ball rolled along the goal line but before Francisco Mendoza could get to it, the ball dribbled across.

Tauro FC celebrated like madmen. The entire team, including nearly all of the players on the bench, celebrated near the left corner as a pocket of Tauro FC supporters erupted in a frenzy in the stands.

Mendoza nearly had a late goal but his 85th-minute shot caromed off a Tauro defender and missed an open net by inches as it rolled just wide of the right post.