MEXICO CITY -- Four goals by Javier Orozco and a winner by Argentine Chaco Gimenez deep into second-half stoppage time capped a remarkable comeback as Cruz Azul defeated Real Salt Lake, 5-4, in a CONCACAF Champions League Group A match at rain-soaked Estadio Azul Wednesday night.

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The two teams combined for four goals in the final three minutes of the second half as La Maquina rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat a Real Salt Lake squad moments from snapping Major League Soccer's winless streak in Mexico at 18 and moving the Americans into sole possession of first place in Group A. The game also marked the most goals scored in a CCL game at nine.

But Orozco, who for the fourth time has scored three or more goals in a CCL match, brought Cruz Azul back from sure defeat and, even after Will Johnson's equalizer two minutes into second-half stoppage time for Real Salt Lake, Cruz Azul would win on Gimenez's deflected strike from 19 meters on the game's final kick.

Real Salt Lake should have taken the lead less than a minute into the game when Cruz Azul goalkeeper Yosgart Gutierrez fumbled Kyle Beckerman's shot from distance and Johnson pounced on the rebound, firing it into the net. However the Canadian international was ruled offside, though television replays appeared to indicate he was even with the last defender.

It was Cruz Azul, though, that took the lead on five minutes as Orozco was played behind the Real Salt Lake defense on a quickly taken, but disputed free kick by Horacio Cervantes, who didn't appear to stop the ball before playing Orozco through. The red-hot forward rounded goalkeeper Nick Rimando and easily slotted the ball into the open net.

With the skies now open, the hosts nearly doubled their lead 10 minutes later, but Emmanuel Villa put the ball off the post after having beaten Rimando from 16 meters.

RSL equalized in the 23rd minute after Espindola was knocked down in the box by Cervantes. Honduran referee Oscar Moncada pointed to the spot where Alvaro Saborio beat Gutierrez low to the keeper's right.

Another blunder by Cervantes, this an attempted pass back to Gutierrez that was swallowed by the waterlogged pitch, led to Saborio's second goal of the first half as the Costa Rican intercepted, rounded Gutierrez and put the Americans in front at halftime.

The start of the second half was delayed 15 minutes to allow stadium workers additional time to clear the standing water on the pitch. When play resumed, both teams slogged through difficult playing conditions.

Real Salt Lake should have increased its lead to two goals five minutes into the second half as Espindola raced in behind the Cruz Azul defense after Julio Cesar Dominguez whiffed on an attempted clearance. But the Argentine lost the ball as he dribbled to the right of Gutierrez, who did well to cut down the angle, and the ball rolled over the end line.

Espindola wouldn't miss in the 64th minute, easily tapping Saborio's cross in at the far post after Saborio picked Dominguez's pocket at the edge of the box.

Cruz Azul got a goal back in the 75th minute as Orozco's deflected shot off Villa's free kick from 16 meters slipped past Rimando.

Captain Gerardo Torrado tried for the equalizer in the 79th minute, but his shot from distance on the wet turf sailed high and wide of the net.

Cruz Azul, which employed its first team, continued to press forward, but Rimando came up big, saving a low shot from long distance four minutes from full time as Real Salt Lake inched closer to a historic win in Mexico City.

But Orozco almost singlehandedly brought Cruz Azul back with a pair of goals in the final three minutes of the match, snatching victory from what appeared to be sure defeat. Johnson capitalized on another defensive mistake by Dominguez, but Gimenez wouldn't be denied, capping a stunning final five minutes of the match.

There's now a logjam in Group A with all four teams level on three points. Real Salt Lake returns home for Matchday 3, taking on Toronto FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sept. 15. Cruz Azul heads to Panama to meet Arabe Unido on the same night.