PACHUCA, Mexico - Juan Carlos Cacho scored late in the first half and Gabriel Caballero and Christian "Chaco" Gimenez added second-half strikes, leading Pachuca to a 3-0 victory over Jalapa of Guatemala in the Mexican side's CONCACAF Champions League debut Tuesday night.

The result sends the two to Guatemala on August 4 for the second leg, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the 16-team Group Stage. Either Pachuca, which won the last two CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, or Jalapa will join Group A with the Houston Dynamo, Metapan of El Salvador and either Olimpia of Honduras or Arabe Unido of Panama.

Pachuca dominated the first half, putting shots off the bar and just wide, and forcing Jalapa goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez into several acrobatic saves to deny the Mexican side.

Cacho finally converted in the 41st minute, scoring into an open goal after Juan Rojas broke free down the right. He drew Jerez well off his line and then squared a ball into the middle of the area, where Cacho side-footed it into an open net.

Jalapa managed only one shot toward goal in the first half, and well high.

Pachuca continued its domination in the second half, doubling its lead in the 57th when Caballero dived head-first to drive a floated cross from Edgar Benitez on the left just inside the post.

Gimenez completed the scoring in the 76th, bending a right-footed free kick into the far side netting after Eddy Ortiz pulled down Benitez as the two approached the penalty area.

Pachuca won its Mexican Apertura opener on Friday, beating UAG 3-2. Jalapa will begin its season on Sunday away against Juventud Retalteca.

The Mexican side started quickly with Javier Munoz heading Gimenez's corner off the bar in the 10th minute.

Carlos Rodriguez found himself alone in front of goal in the 22nd, only to be denied by Jerrez with his legs. Cacho then had a header just wide of the left post in the 23rd.

Pachuca continued to dominated after Gimenez's goal, striking the post with only minutes remaining.