Columbus Crew and Pachuca pick up victories in CONCACAF Champions League

Crew and Pachuca pick up victories

MEXICO CITY — The Columbus Crew of the MLS and Mexican club Pachuca picked up victories Wednesday in group games in the CONCACAF Champions League.

In San Jose, Costa Rica, Eddie Gaven’s goal in the fifth minute lifted the Crew over Saprissa 1-0 in a Group C match.

The victory lifted Columbus to six points in three games, one point behind group leader Cruz Azul of Mexico. Saprissa, the only team from Costa Rica in the tournament, has three points in three games.

In Mexico City, Edgar Benitez and Paul Aguilar scored as Pachuca defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0. Pachuca has six points in three games in Group A and Houston has four. Arabe Unido of Panama leads the group with seven points.

Benitez scored in the 25th minute and Aguilar scored on a long-range shot in the 73rd.

Pachuca had two more opportunities to score after the opener. Juan Carlos Cacho came close in the 49th and Argentine Christian Gimenez also missed a good scoring chance off a pass from Damian Manso.