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CHULA VISTA -- Though soccer may be regarded as a universal sport, there remains some question as to whether the San Diego Flash is ready to go international.
In the first of their two-game "Border Cup '98" exhibition series, the Flash dropped a 2-0 decision to Mexican Second Division team Chivas Tijuana last night before 3,649 at Southwestern College's Devore Stadium.
The Flash, which regularly competes in pro soccer's A-League, is 0-4 this season in exhibitions against international competition, with two of the losses coming against teams from Mexico. The club also dropped a 1-0 decision to the Paraguay National Team and was beaten 4-3 by the Japan Select Team.
Last night's loss, the Flash's first at home in six games, also spoiled the debut of head coach Costa Skouras, who had served as an assistant with the team before the resignation of Ralf Wilhelms.
"I was disappointed, but Chivas Tijuana is a very good team," said Skouras, whose head coaching experience had been limited to the youth level. "We're still putting together a little bit of a different system. I think it's going to work out, but it's going to take a little bit of time."
The game's opening goal came in the 27th minute, when Flash goalkeeper Joe Cannon vacated the net in an attempt to make a play against Chivas Tijuana defender Roberto Lopez. Lopez, however, was able to get a shot off, the ball creeping ever so slowly toward the open net. Flash defender Michael N'Doumbe dove to stop the shot, but was beaten to the ball by Chivas Tijuana defender Mario Arteaga, who drove it into the net.
It was the first goal given up in six homes games by the Flash, which not had been shut out since May 17. The task was made even more formidable in the second half, when forward Jerome Watson was slapped with a red card in the 57th minute. Defender Jaime Munro also was red-carded for an offense that took place in the 82nd minute.
Meanwhile, Chivas Tijuana put the game out of reach when midfielder Juan Parra, who had failed to convert a penalty kick earlier in the match, scored in the 86th minute.
"(Chivas Tijuana) plays a really sophisticated style of play," said Flash forward Lafe Vittitoe, who narrowly missed knocking in a rebound of a shot by midfielder Antonio Robles in the 68th minute. "They know how to shut a team down and attack your weaknesses.
"But facing a team like this is good for us. They're probably better than the average A-League team."
The Flash resumes A-League play Wednesday when it hosts the Staten Island Vipers at 7:30 p.m.
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