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MONTERREY, Mexico - Humberto Suazo set up three goals and defending champion Monterrey beat Pumas 3-0 Wednesday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal.
Suazo fed Miguel Morales with a low short free kick for his second goal of the tournament in the seventh minute, and then assisted Aldo De Nigris for two goals in the second half to send "Los Rayados" to Mexico City next week with the advantage.
Pumas, which has won only two of its last 12 games since January 15 - including an 8-0 victory over El Salvador's Isidro Metapan in the second leg of the quarterfinals, has won the last six meetings against Monterrey in Estadio Olimpico.
Monterrey extended its unbeaten streak to six with its fifth victory, continuing a run that has seen it lose only once in its last 13.
Suazo took advantage of a free kick just off the right side of the penalty area to give Monterrey the lead. He played a quick ball to a darting Morales, who deflected it at the edge of the six-yard box through a crowd and past Pumas keeper Alejandro Palacios.
Monterrey dominated it the first half, with Pumas appearing content to defend.
Pumas had infrequent chances, while Monterrey pressed forward, forcing Palacios to tip De Nigris' header over the bar in the 42nd.
Monterrey continued their form in the second half, but Neri Cardozo was thwarted by Palacios from the edge of the six in the 48th and De Nigris had a chested touch cleared off the line by Efrain Velarde in the 53rd.
The Rayados (Stripes) finally doubled its advantage in the 60th when Suazo crossed a ball high to the back post where De Nigris had beaten Pumas defender Antonio Garcia and headed easily past Palacios from two meters away.
Pumas had a little more of the play and chances, including Carlos Campos' shot from distance that Monterrey keeper Jonathan Orozco had to tip over in the 63rd. But Monterrey assured its victory in the 72nd when, from midfield, Suazo fed a ball down the middle to De Nigris, who turned Pumas defender Marco Palacios around and finished with a left foot from the top of the 18.
Monterrey won for the sixth straight time in the Champions League and won for the ninth time in 11 home games in the tournament.
The loss was first time since a 5-0 loss to Pumas in the 2010 semifinals that Pumas had allowed more than one goal in the Champions League, a stretch of nine matches.
