Defending Mexican League champions Santos downed Kansas City, MLSÆs 2000 champ, 4-2, in Torreon, Mexico in Merconorte Cup play Aug. 8. The loss leaves Kansas City, which lost to PeruÆs Sporting Cristal 2-1 a week ago, at the bottom of Group C with no points. Santos took a 1-0 first-half lead on a 28th-minute penalty kick by Hector Altamirano following a Nick Garcia foul that yielded the WizardsÆ defender a red card. Brazilian Robson Luiz made it 2-0 in the 37th minute. Matt McKeon narrowed the deficit in the 53rd minute but Eduardo Lillingston made it 3-1 for Santos in the 83rd on a penalty kick. Brazilian Carlos Augusto Gomes blasted home a shot for SantosÆ fourth goal a minute later. Roy Lassiter scored the WizardsÆ second with two minutes left. The game was played in front of 16,000 in 95-degree heat. It was refereed by Mexican Antonio Marrufo because the Trinidadian officiating crew did not arrive in time. “The Mexican Champions against the U.S. Champions was officiated by Mexican referees in Mexico,” said Wizards GM Curt Johnson Johnson. “We have already filed a formal protest.” Aug. 8 in Torreon, Mexico Santos 4 Kansas City 2 Scoring Summary: SL- Hector Altamirano (PK) 28′ SL- Robson Luis 37′ KC- Matt McKeon (Chris Klein) 53′ SL- Eduardo Lilingston 84′ SL- Carlos Gomez (PK) 85′ KC- Roy Lassiter (Francisco Gomez) 90′ Santos Laguna — Adrian Martfnez, Hector Lopez, Hector Altamirano, Luis Romero, Jorge Campos, Miguel Angel Carre=n, Carlos Cari±o, Joaqufn Reyes, Rodrigo Ruiz, Eduardo Lilingston, Robson Luiz (subs not available). Kansas City — Bo Oshoniyi, Mike Burns, Nick Garcia (ejected-24), Peter Vermes (captain), Brandon Prideaux, Chris Klein (Roy Lassiter, 61), Matt McKeon, Kerry Zavagnin, Chris Brown (Francisco Gomez, 70), Onandi Lowe (Andrew Gregor, 46), Gary Glasgow Cautions: KC- Lowe (Dissent) 25 KC- Burns (Hand ball) 85 Ejections: KC- Garcia (Flagrant foul) 24 Att.: 16,000.