Jomal Williams and Jamal Charles each netted a double as five-time champion, T&T’s DirecTV W Connection, came from behind to defeat Dominican Republic’s Atlantico FC 4–2 in their opening Caribbean Football Union Club Championship Group One encounter at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Wednesday.
The tournament serves as a qualifier to the 2016/2017 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).
However, the victory was marred by the second-half sending off of influential midfielder Shahdon Winchester, along with Atlantico’s Mateo Zazo, by St Lucian referee Leo Clarke for an off the ball clash, while the visitors also had defender and goalscorer Nelson Benitez Areco red-carded.
Connection nearly got the perfect start after four minutes when captain Alvin Jones’ long-range free-kick canned off the upright after it took a wicked bounce past goalkeeper Tim Pallaks.
Three minutes later, the visitors took a surprise lead when Areco fired past W Connection goalkeeper Julani Archibald after Yefri Reyes headed Wuiswell Isea’s free-kick into his stride inside the 18-yard box. W Connection drew even when Williams guided a whipped in cross from Kurt Frederick over the line to leave the scores level at the half.
Seven minutes into the second-half, both clubs were reduced to ten-men when Winchester and Zazo were shown straight red cards by referee Clarke, who first consulted with assistant referee Zachari Zeegelarr of Suriname following an off-the-ball brawl. The visitors regained the lead in the 65th minute when substitute Kerbi Rodriguez recovered from a slip in the centre of the penalty-box, controlled a Leinner Perez cross and fired past Archibald.
But within three minutes, Williams got his second of the night, a cheeky chip over Pallaks from an Andre Toussaint feed, after the latter’s weaving run past two defenders to bring his team back into the match at 2–2. Soon after the goal, W Connection introduced St Lucian Charles for Suriname’s Dimitrie Apai and he made an immediate impact by putting his team ahead for the first time in the contest in the 78th minute.
It seemed as though the pressure was getting to the Atlantico players as goalscorer Benitez became the third player on the night, and the second from his team to be shown a red card, in the 83rd minute for a dangerous tackle on W Connection substitute Jabari Mitchell.
Charles, 20, then added to the visitors woes when he sealed a 4–2 victory with his second of the night, after collecting a through ball from fellow St Lucian Kurt Frederick, who ended with three assists on the night and rounding goalkeeper Pallaks to tap into an open goal.
With the win, W Connection, which is seeking to qualify for a record eighth Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League group stage from CFU, moved to the top of the four-team table with three points, the same as Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe which edged Guadeloupe’s Club Sportif Moulien 3–2 in the opener.
Tonight, Atlantico and Moengoetapoe meet from 5.30 pm followed by W Connection and Club Sportif Moulien from 7.45 pm. On Sunday, the group will conclude with Moulien facing Atlantico at 4 pm, and W Connection against Moengoetapoe at 6.30 pm. At the end of the four-team tournament, the top team will advance to the semifinals along with the three other group winners on April 29 ahead of the final and third placed playoffs on May 1.
The two finalists and third-place finishers will secure the three Caribbean berths available for the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League.
Results & fixtures
Inter Moengotapoe 3 (Cedric Vamur o.g 26th, Romeo Kastiel 31st, 92nd) vs Club Sportif Moulien 2 (Steve Bizasene 47th, Willis Francillonne 64th)
W Connection 4 (Jomal Williams 32nd, 68th, Jamal Charles 78th, 90’+1) vs Atlantico FC 2 (Nelson Benitez 7th, Kerbi Rodriguez 65th)
Today (Friday, February 26):
Atlantico FC vs Inter Moengotapoe, 5.30 pm
W Connection vs Club Sportif Moulien, 7.45 pm
Sunday, February 28:
Club Sportif Moulien vs Atlantico FC, 4 pm
W Connection vs Inter Moengotapoe, 6.30 pm