5 time Concacaf Champion loses

[Frank Cunha]

CONCACAF Champions League
Marathon beats five-time CONCACAF champion Cruz Azul 2:0




9/17/2008 - SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Carlos Mejia and Mario Beata scored a goal each and CD Marathon defeated Mexico’s CD SC Cruz Azul 2:0 Wednesday night, giving the Honduran club a share of the Group A lead in the CONCACAF Champions League™.

Mejia scored in the 34th and Beata added his in the 56th, putting Marathon on par in Group A with Deportivo Saprissa, which won 2:0 at D.C. United on Tuesday.

It was first loss by Cruz Azul – a five time Champions’s Cup winner -- in four matches, including a pair of 6:0 victories over Hankook Verdes of Belize in the Preliminary Round.

It also was the first win by a Honduran club over a Mexican side since a 4:0 victory by Olimpia over Pachuca in the Champions’ Cup semifinals in January 2001.

Mejia finished a Marathon foray when Oscar Bonilla tapped a ball to Saul Martinez, who followed with a pass behind the defense. Mejia ran onto the through ball and struck a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Julio Valdivia.

Beatta doubled the lead, getting his head to a ball at the near post and deflecting up and over Valdivia.

Marathon next faces USA side D.C. United at home on 24 September in their second group match while Cruz Azul will play Saprissa in Mexico City.