Disappointing Tie for Chivas

A storybook start gave way to a nightmare ending for Juan Francisco Palencia, Juan Pablo Garcia and new and improved Chivas USA on Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Amado Guevara scored his third goal in the fourth minute of second-half injury time to rally the MetroStars to a 3-3 tie with Chivas in a Major League Soccer game at East Rutherford, N.J., to spoil the debut of the Chivas reinforcements.

Before that goal, Guevara’s ninth of the season, it seemed as if Chivas would ride the scoring strength of Palencia’s two first-half goals and Garcia’s goal in the 39th minute to a much-needed win in what has been a disappointing inaugural season.

“For me and for the team it was a result that was good, but it doesn’t feel like a positive result,” Palencia said.

Chivas is 3-17-4, and the MetroStars are 8-7-9.

Guevara scored his first two goals on penalty kicks in the fifth and 69th minutes. The second penalty kick came after a foul by Palencia on Eddie Gaven, although it appeared to be a clean tackle.

Guevara’s third goal was a curling right-footed kick that eluded Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan on the far right post after Guevara took a short pass off a free kick from Youri Djorkaeff.

Palencia’s first two goals created exactly the kind of excitement that Chivas has sought.

The first one came in the 17th minute when Palencia, five feet from the net, redirected a shot by Douglas Sequeira past goalkeeper Tony Meola.

Palencia put Chivas ahead, 2-1, in the 22nd minute when former Chivas defender Ryan Suarez failed to clear a ball that rolled to Palencia, who blasted a low shot into the right corner.

Garcia’s goal was a looping chip shot that left Meola flat-footed after a defensive giveaway.

“Everyone can see they are good players,” Chivas USA Coach Hans Westerhof said of his team’s new players. “They scored all three goals, and they were beautiful goals. So I am satisfied about them.”

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Barrero reported from Los Angeles.