The best of MLS was no match for CONCACAF rivals on opening day of the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Costa Rican powerhouse Alajuela crushed MLS champion San Jose, 3-0, and Caribbean champion San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago humbled the Chicago Fire, 5-2, Wednesday night in the first leg of the quarterfinals.

Both games were decided early in the first half.

Erick Scott and Frolan Ledezma scored to give Alajuela a 2-0 lead after 14 minutes.

Cornell Glenn needed only 37 minutes to score a hat trick for Jabloteh. It was leading, 5-1, before a goal by Justin Mapp in the 87th minute reduced the deficit.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP SUMMARIES:

March 17 in Alajuela

Alajuela (C.R.) 3 San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 0. Goals: Scott 11, Ledezma 14, Arnaez pen. 62.

Alajuela — Gonzalez, Myrie, Marin, Chincilla, Hernandez (Bryce, 75), Arnaez, Lopez, Gabas (Izaguirre, 80), Sirias, Ledezma, Scott (Nunez, 66).

San Jose — Onstad, Hart, Waibel, Dayak, Corrales, Mullan (Alvarez, 60), Mulrooney, Ekelund, Russell, De Rosario (Walker, 66), Donovan (Ching, 79).

Referee: Jose Pineda (Honduras).

Att.: n/a.

March 17 in Port of Spain

San Juan Jabloteh (Trin. & Tobago) 5 Chicago (MLS) 2. Goals: Glenn 7, 12, 37, Noray 52, 73; own goal 40, Mapp 87.

Jabloteh — D.Williams, C.Gray, Daniel, Elcock, I.Gray, Baptiste (Johnson 55), Whitley (Celestine 84), Noel, Noray, Glenn, Eve.

Chicago — Ring, Whitfield, Brown (Griffin 68), Curtin, Gray, Pause (Mapp 57), Armas, A.Williams, Beasley, Ralph, Jaqua (Selolwane 77).

Referee: Peter Prendergast (Jamaica).

Att.: 7,000.

March 17 in San Jose

Saprissa (C.R.) 2 Pachuca (Mex.) 0. Goals: Munoz 34, Saborio 86.

Saprissa — Porras, Drummond, Gonzalez (Vargas), Bennet, Esquivel, Sequeira, Lopez (Solis), Centeno, Munoz (Alfaro), Saborio, Drummond.

Pachuca — Hernandez, Huiqui, Ebanel Juarez, Esqueda, Sanchez, Caballero (Badillo), Rodriguez (Emmanuel Juarez), Godinez, Pinto, Da Silva, Ledesma.

Red card: Pachuca — Ledesma 81.

Referee: Nery Alfaro (El Salvador).

Att.: n/a.

March 17 in San San Salvador

FAS (El Sal.) 0 Monterrey (Mex.) 0.

Monterrey — Ibarra, Rodrfguez, Rochen, Rogeiro (Ordaz, 46), Buitron, Castro, Chavez, Herbiti (Osorno 88), Arellano, Fernandez, Franco.

FAS — Castro, Flores, Mesias, Gonzalez, Pacheco, Murgas, Alvarez, Mafla (Gochez 27), Tobar, De la Cruz, Reyes.

Referee: Roberto Moreno (Panama).

Att.: n/a.