Jose Carlos Diaz scored twice in three minutes and Jose Luis Seabra-Filho scored another to keep alive W Connection’s hopes for a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, leading a 3-2 victory over Real Espana on Wednesday.
The result eliminated Espana, leaving it with six points and tied with Comunicaciones, while W Connection climbed to second place in Group D with seven.
Comunicaciones can claim the last place in the knockout round from the group with a victory at home against Pumas on Thursday, but a draw will send the Trinidadian side through as the Caribbean’s lone representative in the quarterfinals. Pumas already has clinched the group title and a berth in the final eight.
Diaz scored in the sixth and ninth minutes to give an early lead to W Connection, and -- after Espana rallied with an equalizing goal by Carlos Pavon in the 57th – Seabra-Filho scored the winner in the 65th.
Diaz put W Connection early, taking the ball outside the penalty area, dribbling around Espana defender Marion Pena and unleashing a left-footed shot from 22 yards that eluded goalkeeper Marcelo Macias.
Pena was victimized by Diaz less than three minutes later, outracing the Espana defender to a cross from Elkin Gonzales at the right post and side footing the ball for a tap-in.
Espana increased its intensity immediately with both Pavon and Douglas getting dangerous chances before Douglas pulled Espana within a goal in injury time.
The Brazilian took a ball just outside the box, turned and hit a low right-footed shot inside the far post.
Pavon, who was the hero with his second-half goal a week ago against El Salvador that qualified Honduras for its first World Cup since 1982, seemingly brought Espana back to life. Jairo Dainiel Puerto Herrera sent a cross that bounced twice before Pavon beat defender Nickcolson Thomas and tapped in at the back post.
Seabra-Filho, who replaced the injured Diaz just before halftime than tallied the winner, settling a cross and beating Macias from 10 meters just inside the right post.
LINE-UPS
W Connection FC - 21.Marvin Phillip; 12.Romauld Aguillera, 3.Kern Cupid, 15.Eder Arias, 4.Renato Pereira; 33.Christian Viveros, 17.Hughtun Hector, 8.León Clyde, 2.William Oliveira (33.Matthew Bartholemew 63rd); 7.José Díaz (22.Jose Seabra 44th), 10.Jonathan Frias (41.Gerard Williams 78th).
Coach - Stuart Fevrier.
Real España - 2.Marcelo Macias; 13.Nery Medina, 14.Carlos Alberto Palacios, 2.Marlon Peña, 27.Erick Vallecillo (Yellow 72); 8.Carlinhos (24.Christian Martinez 46th), 23.Edder Delgado, 7.Elkin González (20.Alfredo Mejia 46th), 6.Jairo Herrera (Yellow 69) (4.Maynor Martinez 77th); 11.Douglas Mattoso, 9.Carlos Pavón (Yellow 67).
Coach - Ramon Maradiaga.
Final - W Connection 3 (José Díaz 6, 8, Jose Seabra 65) v Real Espana 2 (Douglas Mattoso 45, Carlos Pavon 57).
Referee - T. Taylor (Barbados).
GP W D L F A D PTS
Pumas 5 4 1 0 14 4 +10 13
W Connection 6 2 1 3 10 9 +1 7
Comunicaciones 5 2 0 3 4 7 -3 6
Real España 6 2 0 4 6 14 -8 6