Xelaju rallies late for 2-2 draw.
CONCACAF.COM.Edgar Chinchilla scored twice in the final 16 minutes and Xelaju rallied for a 2-2 draw with DirecTV W Connection on Thursday in a game that marked both teams' return to the CONCACAF Champions League.
Chinchilla tallied his second in the 89th minute with a left-footed drive from 23 meters that spoiled the Trinidadian's first game in the Champions League in three years.
The second-half substitute, who had played only 43 minutes in Xelaju's four Guatemalan league matches this season, started the club's rally with a goal in the 74th.
Each team had the better of play in one half with W Connection jumping ahead 2-0 in the first and Xelaju storming back in the second.
Hachim Arcia scored in the 23rd and Rennie Britto added his in the 34th as the Trinidadian side played its first competitive match since losing the Caribbean Club Championship final to Caledonia in June and its first match in the Champions League in nearly three years.
The match was a key opener for both sides, which will have to play 11-time Mexican league champion Chivas de Guadalajara later in Group 8.
W Connection had most of the play in the first half and went ahead after Andrei Pacheco sprinted down the left side to the byline, was able to get around Xelaju defender Fredy Taylor and sent a cross back in front of the goal.
Britto was able to get a slight deflection of the ball before it rolled to Arcia, who retreated a step outside the six before knocking a left-footed shot inside the right post.
The Trinidadians created several more chances and doubled their lead Johny Giron blocked Clyde Leon's cross, but the Xelaju defender was unable to clear the ball. Jerrel Britto ran on to the loose ball, touched it to his right to an unmarked Rennie Britto, and he finished easily from the middle of the area.
Xelaju started the second half brighter - testing W Connection keeper Jan-Michael Williams with Israel Silva's shot from distance in the 69th --- and scored when Chinchilla headed a ball that Joevin Jones was unable to clear with his head.
Chinchilla followed the ball and volleyed it as it fell at the top of the box, sending it in off the underside of the crossbar.
He equalized by settling a ball out of the back, dribbling to the top of the 18, touching it to his left and unleashing a fierce drive that Williams never touched.
Highlights: -
Click HereTeamsW Connection: - 18 Jan-Michael Williams; 13.Kern Cupid, 12.Gerard Williams, 19.Leslie Russell (Yellow 66) (3.Akeem Benjamin 73rd), 4.Daneil Cyrus, 36.Joevin Jones, 17.Andrei Pacheco (20.Silvio Spann 71st), 8.Clyde Leon, 7.Rennie Britto, 14.Hachim Arcia (Yellow 58) (40.Shahdon Winchester 72nd) (Yellow 77), 31.Jerrel Britto.
Coach: -Stuart Charles-Fevrier (St Lucia).
Xelajú: - 1.Fernando Patterson; 5.Fredy Santiago, 2.Johny Girón, 12.Alexander Cifuentes, 7.Edwin Villatoro, 18.Manuel León, 6.Julio Estacuy , 15.Kevin Arriola (Edgar Chinchilla 60th), 24.Alejandro Alpízar, 9.Israel Silva, 8.Edgar Greaves (10.Sergio Morales 36th).
Coach: - Herman Medford (Costa Rica).
Referee: - Marlon Mejia (El Salvador).
Venue: - Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Trinidad.
StandingsGP W T L GF GA GD Pts W Connection 1 0 1 0 2 2 +0 1
Xelajú 1 0 1 0 2 2 +0 1
Guadalajara 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0