Hector keeps Connection CCL hopes alive.
...but Red Bulls in driver seat.
By: Inshan Flex Mohammed.Hughton Hector’s 72nd minute equalizer off a defensive miscue lifted W Connection to a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in the opening leg of a CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round series at Manny Ramjohn Stadium Thursday night.
The teams travelled to Giants Stadium on Wednesday for the second leg with the Red Bulls holding the advantage of two away goals.
The Red Bulls were trailing in the 40th minute off a Jonathan Frias goal when the striker made sure the ball entered the net after Hughton Hector corner was mistakenly headed onto the goal post by Juan Pablo Angel.
Frias was lurking in the NYRB penalty area and was the first to react as he quickly tapped the ball into the back of the net to send his team into their locker room with a 1-0 lead.
However, the lead was shortlived as Ernst Obster scored the equalizer in the 48th. The Austrian who was making his debut for NYRB put a right-footed shot that deflected off Kern Cupid's arm and past W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
El Salvadoran left-back Alfredo Pacheco turned hero to villain. His cross took a double deflection and went off the leg of lunging W Connection captain Elijah Joseph, up and over Phillip to give his team Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 60th.
But Pacheco's defensive gaffe led to W Connection's equalizer as the Salvadoran missed an attempted diving header. Hector pounced on the ball, firing it over the right shoulder of Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero and off the left post in the 72nd minute.
W Connection then threw everything into attack, but in the end had to settle for the 2-2 draw as it was too little too late as they paid the price for not taking advantage of the NYRB when they had the chance early in the game.
The winner of the aggregate series advances to the group stage, joining Pumas UNAM (Mexico), Comunicaciones (Guatemala) and the winner of the series between Liberia (Costa Rica) and Real Espana (Honduras) in Group D.
My Ratings.Lets start off with the keeper Marvin Phillip. He made some brilliant saves. Both goals were deflections, one off Kern Cupid and the other of captain Elijah Joseph. None were the keeper's fault. - 7
Kern Cupid had a pretty decent game, did a simple job at the back and helped on the wing going forward as well. - 6
Renato Pereira was very solid at the center back and won every aerial ball. He even contributed on set plays and almost scored two great headers. His flaw is his lack of speed, but he made up for it with positioning and aerial strength. - 7
Elijah Joseph, another decent central defender that stayed at the back and did the simple things, however, he is another kick and hope player. Won his tackles well but kicked the ball out to no one in particular and put his own team under constant pressure as a result. NY Red Bulls won mostly everthing that came high up the field. - 6
Brazilian William Oliveira didn't have such a great game. Got beat for pace numerous times but did okay going forward. Came off because of a suspected injury. New York's Dane Richards was having a field day with Oliveira. Not the same player I saw two years ago when he was snapped up by Chicago Fire. - 4
I believe W Connection could find better players in Trinidad and Tobago to play the left wing. Brazilian Igor Santos didn't do much to even comment about. Not even a worthwhile cross from the left-wing was made, and I thought Aklie was bad. Like the attendance at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium Igor had a scanty game. - 3
Hughton Hector's goal was superb, but reminds me of a Babel or Collin Samuel type player as he runs without any direction. His pace and workrate are excellent, but he needs to be a bit smarter with his final decision. However, he was involved in both W Connection goals, scored one and had an assist on the other. - 7
Gerard Williams was an iron in midfield. He broke up a lot of Red Bulls attacks, but what he did with the ball after, well that's another story. - 6
Clyde Leon broke up some plays in midfield, but was not too impressive with his decision making. He had a shot on goal and if it was a baseball game it would have been a home run for sure. - 5
Speaking about baseball, striker Jonathan Frias, who is from a baseball nation, the Dominican Republic, was very impressive and had a very good workrate. Unfortunately, he came off in the second half with an injury. Hopefully he'll recover in time for the return leg as W Connection will surely need him if they are to have any chance of progressing in the tournament. - 8
Andre Toussaint, technically the best player on the W Connection side, made some intelligent passes and came back in defence to help out too. Not that they shouldn't help out, but maybe if both strikers concentrate a little more on getting the ball in the back of the net and not worry about defence to often, they might actually score more goals. - 8
Subs19.Andrei Pacheco had to be the best of all W Connection substitution. Looked impressive and almost had a goal instantly upon his entry. -
No Rating.23.Kerwyn Navarro looked lively and creative but not penetrative enough to leave anything positive. -
No Rating.30.Matthew Bartholomew looked very composed on the ball and had a few good moments, but nothing spectacular. -
No Rating.My Take.I'm not impressed with W Connection at all. Being the home team too- makes it worst. I cant understand why teams based in T&T could never stamp their authority while playing at home. They always play like the away team.
W Connection had the chance to finish off the NY Red Bulls in the first half, but allowed them the comfort to play their own game as the Red Bulls build confidence throughout the match and almost made W Connection pay in the end.
Bear in mind the NY Red Bulls (NYRB) are currently the worst team in the MLS. Though W Connection are fifth in the Pro League they played just to that status unlike Joe Public who were also fifth in the local league when they derailed New England Revolution 6-1 on aggregate in the last set of CONCACAF Championship qualifiers.
You would expect a Brazilian/Trinidad type flair of football from W Connection, but it wasn't so. Too many high balls and clueless passes. Hopefully we will see a better performance and result from W Connection next Wednesday at the Giants Stadium.
Final ScoreW Connection 2—2 Red Bull New YorkJonathan Frias 40', Hughton Hector 72' ; Ernst Oebster 48', Alfredo Pacheco 59'
VenueMannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella Trinidad.
TeamsW Connection:— 21.Marvin Phillip, 3.Kern Cupid, 4.Renato Pereira, 5.Elijah Joseph (capt), 8.Clyde Leon (Yellow), 2.William Oliveira (23.Keryn Navarro 62nd), 17.Hughton Hector, 25.Igor Santos (19.Andrei Pacheco 65th), 41.Gerard Williams, 10.Jonathan Frias (30.Matthew Bartholomew 58th), 11.Andre Toussaint.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Red Bull New York:—1.Daniel Cepero, 2.Kevin Goldthwaite (Yellow), 5.Albert Celades(Yellow), 20.Ernst Oebster (11.Danleigh Borman 80th), 13.Jorge Rojas (Yellow) (8.Sinisa Ubiraparipovic 90+), 6.Seth Stammler, 12.Mike Petke, 16.Alfredo Pacheco, 17.Jeremy Hall, 19.Dane Richards, 9.Juan Pablo Angel (capt).
Coach—Juan Carlos Osorio.
VideosRed Bulls reaction after the 2-2 1st leg draw with W Connection in T&TChampions League W Connection v NY Red Bulls Highlights