Jonathan Frias scored three goals in the second half gave W Connection a 3-0 victory at Comunicaciones Wednesday night to revive the Trinidad club's hopes of reaching the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
It was the first victory for W Connection in Group D and moved it into third place with four points, three behind group leader Pumas and two behind Comunicaciones. Pumas hosts Real Espana on Thursday. Only two teams advance.
Frias scored eight minutes apart early in the second half and added another with 13 minutes remaining to give him four in the tournament.
Hughtun Hector played a ball into the area that Comunicaciones defender Carlos Gallardo tried to slide tackle away. The ball struck Frias in the shins and bounced ahead of the 22-year-old Dominican, and he calmly shot to the far post. Goalkeeper David Guerra was able to get a hand to the shot, but not enough to keep it from bounding into the goal in the 47th minute.
Farias doubled the lead in the 55th. Matthew Bartholemew played a simple square ball to Frias, who turned and took three touches before launching a shot from 27 meters that bounced once before skipping inside the left post past a diving Guerra.
He assured W Connection of the win in the 77th. Matthew Bartholemew traded passes with Nickcolson Thomas before sending the ball ahead to Frias at the top of the area. Farias dribbled into the area before unleashing a right-footed shot inside the near post.
Comunicaciones had an overwhelming majority of possession from the opening kickoff, but was limited to chances from distance and shots that sailed high and wide.
Goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams was busy but was never really tested. Comunicaciones' best chances came from distance by Jean Marquez and Transito Montepeque in the 14th minute and another by Fredy Thompson two minutes later that was blocked in front of the goal.
W Connection began to change the momentum after 20 minutes. Frias began to trouble Comunicaciones with an effort down the right wing, sending a cross to an unmarked Renato Pereira at the corner of the six-yard box, but the Brazilian blew the chance well over the cross bar.
Comunicaciones mounted a second-half charge late, culiminating with a shot off the bar in the 85th.
The victory ended a four-game winless streak for W Connection, which finished the TT Pro League in fourth place and was eliminated from the Trinidad league cup last week. It also avenges its 2-1 loss at home against Comunicaciones on August 27.
Video Highlights
TEAMS
Comunicaciones: - 1 D. Guerra, 4 C. Gallardo (Yellow 90), 5 E. Morales (29 M. Soto 63rd), 8 S. Diaz, 22 R. Gomez, 11 I. Candia, 12 J. Marquez, 6 L. Bradley, 15 F. Thompson (Yellow 37) (27 D. Pezzarossi 69th), 17 T. Montepeque, 7 R. Fonseca.
Coach: J. Gonzalez.
W Connection: - 18 J. Williams, 5 E. Joseph, 4 Renato Pereira (Yellow 54), 12 R. Aguillera, 8 C. Leon, 17 H. Hector (15 E. Arias 90th), 33 C. Viveros (23 K. Navarro 88th), 13 N. Thomas, 3 K. Cupid, 10 J. Frias, 30 M. Bartholomew (41 G. Williams 78th).
Coach: S. Charles.
GP W D L F A D PTS
Pumas 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7
Comunicaciones 4 2 0 2 4 5 -1 6
W Connection 4 1 1 2 6 5 +1 4
Real España 3 1 0 2 2 7 -5 3