Thu Apr 10 13:08:16 2008

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Dynamo eliminated from Champions' Cup

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San Jose, Costa Rica (Sports Network) - Armando Alonso, Celso Borges and Jairo Arrieta scored to lead Deportivo Saprissa to a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Houston, the two-time defending Major League Soccer champions, played without four regulars and were no match for the three-time Champions' Cup winners at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Saprissa advanced to the championship on aggregate, 3-0, after the teams tied the first leg 0-0 in Houston, Texas. Saprissa will play Mexico's Pahuca in the final series.

The Dynamo didn't have first-team goalie Pat Onstad, defenders Eddie Robinson and Bobby Boswell and midfielder Stuart Holden. Houston was also forced to sub starting defender Craig Waibel after just 10 minutes because of an injury.

Alonso gave Saprissa the lead with 10 minutes left in the first and Borges and Arrieta scored in the second half.

The first leg of the Champions' Cup final is April 23 at Saprissa. Pahuca lost to D.C. United, 2-1, on Wednesday but advanced on aggregate, 3-2.

Houston returns to MLS action Saturday at Kansas City.