CONCACAF Champions League do-or-die: Connection, Central host Saprissa and Comunicaciones, respectively
ttproleague.com
W Connection and Central FC are chasing their first points of the 2015/2016 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) this week in must-win situations to keep alive virtually impossible mathematical chances of advancing out of the group stage.
Connection, coming off last Friday’s 1-0 loss to Central in the Digicel Charity Shield, will seek to avenge a 4-0 defeat at Deportivo Saprissa but knows it would be difficult when they host the Costa Ricans from 8pm on Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the second leg of their Group A fixture.
“We are looking for an upset,” said W Connection assistant coach Earl Jean. “Victory is on our mind because we have our name and Trinidad (and Tobago) to protect.
Jean, a former W Connection CCL striker, added, “It would very difficult because Saprissa are a very good team and very experienced. They have won the CONCACAF tournament a few times. We played them recently and know what they are capable of. We are just finishing off our pre-season but are quite confident at this stage.
Saprissa (6 points, 2-0-0), three-time winners and four-time runners-up in the CCL under its previous name, CONCACAF Champions Cup, climbed to the top of Group A with a 2-1 win over previous leaders Santos Laguna (3 points, 2-0-1) of Mexico at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium on August 25, while Connection occupies bottom of the three-team group without a point after two matches.
A loss or draw for the “Savonetta Boys” this week will end their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinal stage, as only the top team from each of the eight preliminary round groups will advance.
So too will be the case of Central if the “Couva Sharks” were to lose against visiting Comunicaciones of Guatemala on Thursday 17 September at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in their second leg Group D fixture.
“We had a great game against Comunicaciones in the first leg but we were a bit unlucky in not putting away our chances,” said Central FC head coach Ross Russell.
“We are aware that we must win big in our remaining two games if we are to keep our mathematical chance alive because LA Galaxy are at the top with ten goals to their name. Then we have to hope that Comunicaciones get a win against Galaxy in their final game.”
Like Connection, Central are at the bottom of their group without a point after two matches. Major League Soccer (MLS)’s LA Galaxy (6 points, 2-0-0) leads the group while Comunicaciones (3 points, 1-0-1) are second.
Russell continued, “The club (Central) is new to CONCACAF and it’s all about getting our feet wet. We need to win, which will be a good for the tournament. We know that Comunicaciones will not lie down because they too have a mathematical chance. But we are going all out to try and excite the tournament and Trinidad and Tobago.”
Central, suffering the effects off the offseason like Connection against the confederations top teams well into their respective domestic seasons, were flattened 5-1 at Galaxy on August 6 but were only edged 1-0 at Comunicaciones on August 27.
Jean expressed, “It was a difficult ask for us (W Connection) and Central being out of season and against the best teams in CONCACAF but we want to show what it’s really about at Connection in our remaining group matches.”
Both Pro League clubs will wrap up their group stage fixtures at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with Connection, who were defeated 4-0 at two-time CCL runners-up Santos on August 4, hosting the Mexicans on Tuesday 22 September in the second leg, while Central must host Galaxy on Wednesday 23 September.
Santos will welcome Saprissa in the final Group A match on October 20, and a day later, October 21, Comunicaciones will host Galaxy to complete Group D.
CONCACAF Champions League 2015/2016
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wednesday 16 September 2015
W Connection vs Saprissa—8 pm
Thursday 17 September 2015
Central FC vs Comunicaciones—8 pm
Tuesday 22 September 2015
W Connection vs Santos Laguna—8 pm
Wednesday 23 September 2015
Central FC vs LA Galaxy—8 pm
