Edison Mendez's quality hat trick led Liga de Quito to a 5-1 rout of Fluminense in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final on Wednesday.
The return leg is next Wednesday at Rio de Janeiro, where Fluminense will be relieved after appearing to struggle to breathe at Quito's 3,000-meter altitude.
Copa Sudamericana Final
The final is a rematch of the 2008 final of the Copa Libertadores, South America's club championship, where Liga beat Fluminense in a penalty shootout to become the first club from Ecuador to win a major tournament.
In search of revenge, Fluminense made a remarkable start at Casa Blanca Stadium.
After barely 20 seconds, the ball was worked to Fred on the edge of the box and the former Lyon striker's shot was barely parried away by goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez. Marquinho pounced on the rebound and blasted a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
Liga regrouped fast, however, with Giovani Espinola and Ulises De La Cruz going close with headers.
Mendez pulled the home side level in the 21st minute after receiving a quick free kick on the right and arrowing a shot that stung the fingers of Fluminense goalkeeper Rafael.
Mendez repeated in the 44th. His 30-meter free kick rebounded off the wall but dropped invitingly into his path and the veteran midfielder launched an unstoppable drive off the underside of the crossbar to put Liga in front.
In the 60th, Mendez arrived in the box to complete his hat trick with a downward header from Norberto Araujo's right wing cross.
Franklin Salas swapped passes with Mendez inside the box in the 77th and hit a first-time volley across Rafael for Liga's fourth goal.
De La Cruz sealed a miserable night for Fluminense with a 30-meter strike in the 88th.
