Los Angeles and Columbus are supposed to be the best of MLS. The Galaxy is the defending league champion. The Crew won last year's U.S. Open Cup. They're Soccer America's picks to win their respective conferences in 2003, but they bombed in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Galaxy lost to Necaxa of Mexico, 4-1, in Fullerton, Calif. For the Crew, the first leg of the quarterfinals was an even bigger nightmare. Columbus fell to Morelia, last year's CONCACAF runner-up, 6-0, in Mexico.
The Galaxy finished second in the 1997 Champions Cup and won the 2000 title, but it is all but eliminated from this year's tournament.
''It was an embarrassing game for us, '' said Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid. ''We did not play well and let them take the game to us.''
Michoacan has been a graveyard for MLS clubs. Last year, Morelia beat Kansas City, 6-1, in the first leg of their semifinal series.
A goal from Miguel Almazan in the 84th minute gave Toluca a 2-1 win at Municipal of Guatemala to give Mexican clubs a decisive edge in three series.
The second legs of these series will be played April 16.
The fourth quarterfinal series between Club America of Mexico and Alajuela of Costa Rica will be played April 16 and 23.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP: MLS Summaries
April 9 in Fullerton, Calif.
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 1 Necaxa (Mex.) 4. Goals: Pineda Chacon 36; Franco 27, 51, Alves 81, Larrosa 87.
Los Angeles — Hartman, Hong (C.Ruiz, 81), Lalas, Marshall, Hendrickson, Elliott, Vagenas, Victorine, Jones, Albright (Glinton, 60), Pineda Chacon (Cienfuegos, 64).
Necaxa — Ortiz, Higareda, Arevalo, Cabrera, Acosta, Martinez, V.Ruiz (Aguinaga, 75), Pena, Alves, Luna (Gomez, 86), Franco (Larrosa, 68).
Referee: Mike Seifert (USA).
Att.: 3,814.
April 9 in Morelia
Morelia (Mex.) 6 Columbus Crew (USA) 0.
Goals: Palacios 38, Iniguez 42, 69, Bautista 49, 54, Navia 65.
Morelia — Fuentes, Vizcarra (D.Hernandez, 46), Ramirez, Franco, Gutierrez, M.Hernandez, Gonzalez, Alvarez (Navia, 55), Palacios, Bautista (Gomez, 59), Iniguez.
Columbus — Busch, Clark, McCarty, Akwari, Denton, Oughton, Maisonneuve (Walsh, 63), Garcia, Paule (West, 52), Buddle (Cunningham, 50), McBride.
Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador).
Att.: n/a.