MLS kings Atlanta ousted from CONCACAF Champions League

Washington - Josef Martinez's 77th-minute strike lifted Atlanta United over Monterrey 1-0 Wednesday but it was the defeated Mexican club that advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals.

Monterrey won the two-leg aggregate goals series 3-1 over the reigning Major League Soccer champions. Los Rayados scored twice in the last 10 minutes of a 3-0 home win last week.

Venezuelan forward Martinez netted the lone goal off an assist from Darlington Nagbe, who had a goal waived off in the 83rd minute by a Martinez foul.

Monterrey advanced to a two-leg semi-final against Sporting Kansas City of MLS or Club Atletico Independiente of Panama.

Those teams play their second leg Thursday with Sporting trying to avoid a quarter-final sweep out of four MLS clubs after a 2-1 road loss last week.

The other two-leg semi-final will match Mexican rivals Tigres and Santos Laguna, who eliminated Houston and New York Red Bulls respectively on Wednesday.

CONCACAF is the governing body responsible for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.