Jose Alvarado's late strike keeps Monterrey square with Columbus Crew SC

Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire

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Jose Alvarado's goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time lifted Monterrey to a 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew SC in Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg.

The second leg will be played on May 5 in Guadalupe, Mexico.

Monterrey's Ake Arnaud Loba opened the scoring in the ninth minute, rolling a 15-yard shot through the legs of Columbus defender Aboubacar Keita and inside the far post.

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In the 65th minute, Columbus' Lucas Zelarayan kept the ball in play with some fancy footwork before sending in a cross that ricocheted to Milton Valenzuela, who converted a left-footed shot from 10 yards out.

Zelarayan then scored on a low 12-yard shot in the 87th minute to give Columbus a short-lived lead, before An unmarked Alvarado headed home a looping cross from Dorlan Pabon to level the score.

The Monterrey-Columbus winner will oppose Cruz Azul or Toronto FC in the semifinals.