Rolando Fonseca scored on an 80th minute penalty kick, lifting Comunicaciones to a 2-1 win over host W Connection in a CONCACAF Champions League Group D game Thursday evening at Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
The win gave the Cremas its first points of the competition, while W Connection suffered its second loss in two games.
Repeating scenes from its 1-0 loss at Real Espana last week, the Caribbean champion created chances, but could not find the back of the net often enough.
Andre Toussaint saw a long-range effort sail over the Comunicaciones crossbar in the 8th minute. Six minutes later, Dominican Republic international Jonathan Frias thought he gave the home side the lead, but his shot was parried out for a corner by goalkeeper David Guerra.
Then, in the 31st minute, the visitors struck against the run of play. Confusion between W Connection defenders Elijah Joseph and Gerard Williams saw a ball break for Transito Montepeque. The 28-year-old forward beat his defender and rounded goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to give his team a shock lead.
The Comunicaciones defense eventually tightened, preventing W Connection from penetrating into the area.
The Savonetta Boys suffered a blow in the 64th minute, when Colombian defender Cristian Viveros was ejected for pulling Manuel Soto to the ground.
Despite being down a man, W Connection equalized 11 minutes later. Clyde Leon executed a give-and-go to perfection with Hughtun Hector. Leon took the return pass and did not hesitate as he rocketed a shot past Guerra from 25-yards out.
The 1978 CONCACAF club champion would not settle for a sole away point and was rewarded for its enterprising play with a goal 10 minutes from time. US referee Ricardo Salazar whistled W Connection for a handball infraction inside its own penalty box, giving Fonseca the opportunity to score the game winner.
The victory was only the third for an away team in the tournament after 15 games.
Comunicaciones returns to CONCACAF Champions League action on September 17, when it hosts Real Espana. W Connection welcomes Pumas to Trinidad a day earlier.
Teams
W Connection: - 21.Marvin Phillip, 5.Elijah Joseph (capt) (Yellow 60), 4.Renato Pereira, 11.Andre Toussaint (40.Shahdon Winchester), 8.Clyde Leon, 17. Hughtun Hector, 33.Christian Viveros (Yellow 38, Red 64), 41.Gerard Williams, 3.Kern Cupid, 2.William De Silva Oliveira (13.Nickcolson Thomas 74th), 10.Jonathan Frias (25.Igor De Oliveira Santos 83rd).
CSD Comunicaciones: - 1.David Guerra, 13.Carlos Castrillo, 4.Carlos Gallardo (5.Erwin Morales 77th), 3.Edwin Enriquez (Yellow 71), 8.Sebastian Diaz, 29.Manuel Soto, 6.Luis Bradley, 99.Marco Ciani (22.Rigoberto Gomez 68th), 15.Fredy Thompson, 17.Transito Montepeque (27.Dwight Pezzarossi 72nd), 7.Rolando Fonseca (capt).
Officials
Referee: Ricardo Salazar (USA).
Assistants: Thomas Supple (USA), Fabio Tovar (USA).
Fourth official: Geoffrey Hospedales (TRI).
GP W D L F A D PTS
Pumas UNAM 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6
CSD Comunicaciones 2 1 0 1 2 2 +0 3
Real CD España 2 1 0 1 2 5 -3 3
W Connection FC 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0
W Connection fall hard.
By: Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
Two disastrous defensive mistakes undid a good night's work from W Connection, who fell to a disappointing 2-1 loss in their CONCACAF Champions League match against CSD Comunicaciones on Thursday night at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The Trinidad and Tobago club had pushed the Guatemalan champions back, winning a succession of free-kicks and corners, but not getting goals. And while W Connection chased victory, it was the Guatemalans who went ahead against the run of play in the 31st minute.
Concentrating only on the ball, W Connection holding midfielder Gerard Williams collided with teammate Christian Viveros, allowing the lone Comunicaciones attacker Transito Montepeque to score in an unguarded net after evading goalie Marvin Phillip.
W Connection were further wounded in the 65th when losing Colombian midfielder Viveros, who was given a second yellow card by American referee Ricard Salazar following a slight tug on Comunicaciones midfielder Manuel Soto.
It then became a night to forget for the hard-working Williams when he unluckily handled a shot in the box and gave away a penalty just four minutes after W Connection had clawed back level through Clyde Leon in the 75th.
After unsuccessfully trying a few shoots, Leon found his range in emphatic fashion. Set up by Houghton Hector's short touch atop the penalty area, Leon struck the net in a manner reminiscent of the "Strike Squad" days when Kerry Jamerson banged in Russell Latapy's passes during the attempt to get to the 1990 World Cup.
At that point, W Connection were down to just nine players following the loss of Viveros and also striker Andre Toussaint, who was having a lengthy spell on the bench getting treatment after he was mowed down by central defender Edwin Enrquez.
The hosts were still forcing Comunicaciones back, but Williams's infringement allowed Costa Rican Rolando Fonseca to put Comunicaciones back in front at 2-1 with a hard, low spot-kick in the 79th minute, despite keeper Phillip getting a touch with his right hand.
In the dying seconds, Williams gave it his all to at least grab a point for W Connection when running around the back of the defenders onto a through ball, but just failed to beat the advance of Comunicaciones keeper David Guerra.