Despite quick starts that gave both teams hope of miracle comebacks, MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew were eliminated, 6-2, on aggregate by Mexican clubs in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Wednesday night.

In Aguacalientes, Mexico, the Galaxy took an early lead against Necaxa on a Chris Albright goal in the 20th minute to cut its deficit to 4-2 on aggregate, but a pair of goals by Necaxa forward Rodolfo Espinoza, the first in the 45th minute on a penalty kick after Alexi Lalas tangled with him in the box, gave Necaxa a 2-1 win and a 6-2 victory on aggregate.

At Columbus Crew Stadium, goals by Edson Buddle and Jeff Cunningham gave the Crew a 2-0 lead over Morelia after 28 minutes to reduce the Mexican club's lead to 6-2, but Eric Denton was sent off for his second yellow card three minutes later. Forced to play with 10 men the rest of the game, Columbus had to settle for a 2-0 win.

A third Mexican club, Toluca advanced with its second 2-1 win over Municipal of Guatemala, and the fourth Mexican entrant, Club America, won the first leg of its series against Alajuela of Costa Rica, 4-0, in Mexico City.

April 16 in Aguacalientes

Necaxa (Mex.) 2 Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 1. Goals: Espinoza pen. 45, 67; Albright 20.

Necaxa — Ortiz, Mejia, Ostersen, Orrego, Pena, Perez, Aguinaga, V.Ruiz, Larrosa, Espinoza, Batista.

Los Angeles — Hartman, Califf, Hong, Lalas (Hendrickson, 59), Ochoa (Victorine, 46), Vagenas, Cienfuegos (Jones, 65), Retiz, Albright, Ruiz, Moreno.

Referee: Walter Quesada (Costa Rica)

Att.: 7,500.

(Necaxa wins 6-2 on aggregate.)

April 16 in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus Crew (USA) 2 Morelia (Mex.) 0. Goals: Buddle 15, Cunningham pen. 28.

Columbus — Presthus, Hejduk (Traeger, 79), McCarty, Akwari, Denton, Oughton, Paule, Walsh, Garcia (Maisonneuve, 60), Buddle (McBride, 50), Cunningham

Morelia — Fuentes, Franco, Morales (Rosas, 80), Pliego (Martinez, 46), Ramirez, Gutierrez, Hernandez, Urteaga, Iniguez, Gomez, Prieto (Bautista, 36)

Red card: Columbus — Denton 31.

Referee: Jean-Francois Corrivault (Canada).

Att.: 3,358

(Morelia wins 6-2 on aggregate.)