Lopez Helps Toluca Tie Morelia, 3-3

Israel Lopez’s second goal with about eight minutes left lifted Toluca to a 3-3 tie against host Morelia in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup final involving teams from Mexico.

The rain-soaked game late Wednesday saw Toluca stun the home crowd by jumping to a 2-0 lead within the first 13 minutes on goals by Lopez and Uzziel Lozano.

Morelia cut the deficit in half just before halftime when Reinaldo Navia of Chile scored in the 44th minute.

Navia struck again in the 63rd minute to tie the score and teammate Damian Alvarez of Argentina gave Morelia a 3-2 lead -- and seemingly control of the game -- when he scored six minutes later.

But Lopez pulled Toluca back into a tie with his 82nd-minute score and goalkeeper Hernan Cristante made several key saves to preserve the result.

The teams will play the second leg Oct. 8 at Toluca to determine the top regional club team for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

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Marquez Slowed

Mexico and Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez admitted he is still recovering from a leg injury suffered during this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and that it has hampered his ability to make an impression in Spain.

“I understand that I’m not [in the lineup] because I’m not at my highest level,” Marquez said. “But I prefer to totally recuperate so I can be useful to the team.”

Marquez has expressed hope of playing Saturday against visiting Osasuna, coached by former Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre.

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Copa Libertadores

An agreement involving CONCACAF, CONMEBOL (the South American confederation) and the Mexican Football Federation will allow direct entry for teams from Mexico into the Copa Libertadores tournament.

The annual event, which is the most prestigious for club teams in South America, will have two Mexican teams participate in 2004 and three in 2005 and 2006.

Mexican teams have participated in the past but have needed to win qualifying matches to gain entry -- a condition that has now been abandoned.

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Howard Primed

Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard gets another chance to make life miserable for Arsenal on Sunday.

Since leading Manchester to a penalty-kicks victory over Arsenal in the preseason Community Shield match, Howard has posted four shutouts in the English Premier League. A victory Sunday would put Manchester in first place ahead of Arsenal.

“Arsenal are coming into our house and we have to stop them from taking it,” Howard said. “They will be hungry to avenge [their loss].... I’m sure people will say it is my biggest test, but I will just try to prepare as normal.”

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Revolution Fizzles

Despite two Colorado Rapid player ejections, the New England Revolution could manage only a 0-0 tie in a Major League Soccer game in front of 8,807 at Foxboro, Mass.

Colorado’s Kyle Beckerman was ejected in the 43rd minute and Pablo Mastroeni suffered the same fate in the 94th -- Beckerman for a serious foul and Mastroeni for his second yellow card.

New England (7-9-9) remained one point behind Columbus for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Colorado (11-9-5) already has clinched a spot.

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Quick Passes

Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli, a former Juventus and Middlesbrough star, told BBC Radio Scotland that he will sign with Scottish Premier League team Dundee on Monday.... Cruz Azul midfielder Alex Aguinaga of Ecuador says he has recovered sufficiently from a right knee injury to play Sunday against Pachuca.

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Times wire services contributed to this report.