Only Cruz Azul won its first leg quarterfinal in the CONCACAF Champions League this week, yet the title could still come down to an all-Mexican affair.

Toluca and Pachuca both earned road draws, despite holding leads late in the second half, while Pumas UNAM - with a mostly reserve team - suffered a 2-0 loss to Marathon in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Cruz Azul, which lost to Atlante in last year's final, has a distinct advantage returning to Mexico after a 1-0 win over Arabe Unido in La Chorrera on Thursday.

Cristian Riveros scored the winning goal for La Maquina with an open header in the 70th minute. The return leg will be played at Estadio Azul on Wednesday night.

Toluca appeared to be comfortable, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Antonio "Sinha" Naelson and Antonio Rios, but the Columbus Crew rallied at Crew Stadium on Tuesday thanks to a pair of goals by Steven Lenhart - including the equalizer in the 84th.

The Mexico-United States rivalry contested so ferociously on the international stage encroached into the club level Tuesday with several skirmishes sprouting up during the hard-fought match. Too many for Toluca manager Jose de la Torre's liking.

"There were some questionable calls by the referee to allow a lot of aggression that benefitted them," he said. "Generally, I'm not one to make comments about the referee's performance, but based on tonight's referee's performance, my players were at risk of injury."

The Crew, still two weeks from opening the Major League Soccer regular season, is encouraged by the comeback, but know a victory at Estadio Nemesio Diez will be difficult considering MLS squads have managed only two draws in 19 competitive matches in Mexico. Plus Toluca has an edge with two away goals.

"They gave us little respect," Columbus defender Danny O'Rourke said. "Typically Mexican teams don't have a lot of respect for the U.S. The national team has done well in recent years and that has given us some respect and hopefully MLS advancing in the Champions League will gain us more respect."

Pachuca also led in the second half at Estadio Cementos Progreso, thanks to Paul Nicholas Aguilar's tally less than a minute after kickoff, but Comunicaciones forged a 1-1 draw thanks to a 73rd-minute strike from captain Rolando Fonseca on Wednesday.

Despite giving up the late equalizer, Pachuca manager Guillermo Rivarola was pleased with a positive result away from home and is anxious for the return leg Tuesday at Estadio Miguel Hidalgo.

"Good result [considering] how the game looked, how the rival presented itself," Rivarola said. "A good first half and [now] we have 90 minutes to decide at home."

Marathon, which was upset in last year's quarterfinals by the Puerto Rico Islanders, is looking to spoil the Mexican sweep after penalty kicks by Walter Martinez and Carlos Mejia lifted the hosts to a 2-0 victory over Pumas at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano on Wednesday.

Martinez struck in the 18th minute and Mejia scored in the 53rd minute for Marathon, which was unbeaten in San Pedro Sula during the group stage.

"Without a doubt, the Pumas victory was a good mood injection for the team," Marathon coach Nicolas Suazo said. "We have to keep winning matches and not deviate…from this path because our team needs to be fighting for the first places."

The second leg will be played at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City on Thursday.