Club Atletico Independiente shocked Toronto FC 4-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
The Canadian club had not played a competitive match since the end of the 2018 MLS regular season and it showed at Estadio Agustin Sanchez. The Panamanian hosts and competition debutantes jumped to an early lead when Abdiel Ayarza scored in the ninth minute.
Toronto's newly acquired striker Terrence Boyd had a chance to equalize on a penalty kick in the 31st minute but the U.S. international missed wide right.
Independiente doubled their lead within a minute of the second half after Omar Browne served a booming, swirling shot over TFC goalkeeper Alex Bono. Romeesh Ivey effectively put the game out of reach with goals in the 52nd and 78th minute.
The return leg is set for Toronto on Feb. 26.
Highlights 📹: @caipanama stuns @TorontoFC with a 4-0 win over the 2018 finalists#CAIvTOR #SCCL2019 pic.twitter.com/od3Nt5s7Sl
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 20, 2019
Costa Rican club Saprissa beat Liga MX side Tigres UANL 1-0 in their first-leg match.
Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti's side controlled possession against the hosts and had clear chances throughout the night, but Johan Venegas' header in the 73rd minute gave the "Purple Monster" the eventual victory.
The Monterrey-based club fielded a strong team against Saprissa but were without leading scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac.
The return leg is set for Tigres' Estadio Universitario on Feb. 26.
In Tuesday's late match, Houston Dynamo won 1-0 against Guastatoya in Guatemala City.
Guastatoya goalkeeper Jose Calderon produced a stunning save in the 83rd minute to keep the hosts on par with the MLS side, but Houston veteran DaMarcus Beasley was able to settle the game in the Dynamo's favor -- firing in a fine 20-yard effort just a minute later.
