W Connection Within Sight Of CCL Quarterfinals

Trinidad side W Connection put themselves in a good position to reach the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over Real España on Wednesday.

W Connection finished the group stage with seven points and have one more than Comunicaciones. The Guatemalan side host Pumas on Thursday and need a victory to advance. Comunicaciones have six points but have a minus-three goal-differential compared to W Connection's plus-one.

First Half

W Connection went in search of blood early, and found it. Jose Diaz scored twice in a two-minute span as the hosts went for the kill from the start.

In the sixth minute, Diaz lined up a 20-yard shot and fired it on goal. The ball skipped past Real España 'keeper Marcelo Antonio Macias and into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Diaz struck again. After a cross came in from the left flank, Diaz re-directed it into the back of the net and W Connection appeared poised for a rout.

However, Real España began to pressure the hosts. Carlos Pavon tried a scissor kick later in the half and just placed it over the crossbar. But the Hondurans woudl have something to celebrate before the end of the half. In the 45th minute, Douglas Mattosso knocked a shot from just outside the penalty area into the back of the net.

Second Half

With Real España down one goal, the visitors continued to battle. The Hondurans needed just a draw to help secure their own spot as the club came into the match on six points.

Pavon, who a week ago had put his country into the World Cup in a 1-0 Honduras win over El Salvador, equalized in the 57th minute as he finished off a pass from close range.

But Jose Seabra Filho put W Connection up for good in the 65th minute when he trapped a ball from the right side of the penalty area with his chest and fired it past Macias for the match-winner and possible quarterfinal ticket.

Mattosso had a late chance to tie but his short-range header went over the crossbar.

Goal.com

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