DirecTV W Connection will go into their final 2015/2016 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Group One clash with Mexicans Santos Laguna at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 8 pm tonight needing a huge win to keep alive its hopes of reaching the quarterfinal round.
And while the task against the Mexicans, 4-0 winners over the T&T club at home may seem an uphill one, the "Savonneta Boys" buoyed by their 2-1 defeat of Costa Rica champions Deportivo Saprissa on Wednesday last at the same Mucurapo venue will enter tonight's match with renewed belief.
Despite the loss though, Saprissa still heads the three-team table with six points from three matches and one left to play against Santos Laguna on October 20.
Santos and W Connection, former Caribbean Football Union Club Champions and T&T Pro League winners have three points each, however, the Mexicans have a better goal difference of plus-three to W Connection's minus-seven, meaning the local club will have to go on an all out attack if it harbours any real hope of qualification.
Missing out on tonight's encounter for W Connection is midfielder Gerard Williams who was red carded against Saprissa, but the quartet of foward Dwight Quintero (low fitness following illness), Jamal Charles (ankle), Shahdon Winchester (returning from thigh injury) and midfielder Kevon Goddard (ankle) should all be available after missing last week's match.
The victory for the "Savonneta Boys" over Saprissa snapped a ten-match winless streak and five-match scoreless streak in the tournament thanks to a decisive strike from Soca Warriors defender Alvin Jones and with the Digicel T&T Pro League set to kick off this weekend, coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier will be hopeful of another positive display from his youthful squad.
Santos enters the match on the back off a 2-0 loss to Atlas in the Mexican League on Friday and occupies the cellar-spot on the 18-team table with only seven points from nine matches.
...Central FC face uphill
task in LA Galaxy
Central FC, reigning T&T Pro League champions also goes into its final Group D match in the 2015/2016 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League against US Major League Soccer champions, LA Galaxy at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 8 pm tomorrow, needing nothing less than big win to have any chance of qualifying to the quarterfinals.
Going into its final match, Central FC, also the current Caribbean Football Union Club Champions, sits second on the table on goal-difference from Guatemalans, Comunicaciones after a 1-0 win at Mucurapo over the same opponents on Thursday courtesy an Ataulla Guerra second-half goal.
However, LA Galaxy has maximum six points from its first two matches, a 5-1 win over Central FC back on August 6, and then 5-0 over Comunicaciones and despite being shut-out 3-0 by Real Salt Lake on Saturday in their latest US Major League Soccer match, its third straight match without a goal, it will be favourites to turn back the host.
Out of tomorrow's encounter for Central FC which is on a two-match winning streak, having edged W Connection in the Digicel Charity Shield final, 1-0, is midfielder Darren Matchell after his red card expulsion in the win over Comunicaciones.
On the other hand with LA Galaxy third on the US MLSr Western Conference table with 47 points from 30 matches, the same as FC Dallas, but behind Vancouver Whitecaps in the race for the divisional crown it is left to be seen if coach Bruce Arena will travel with his star players.
They include former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerard, Republic of Ireland's Robbie Keane and Mexico international Giovani Dos Santos.
Comunicaciones will host five-time MLS champions LA Galaxy in the final Group D match on Wednesday October 21.
Group A
Remaining W Connection Scotiabank CCL matches:
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo:
Today (Tuesday September 22):
W Connection vs Santos Laguna, 8 pm
Current Group A standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Saprissa 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
W Connection 3 1 0 2 2 9 3
Santos 2 1 0 1 5 2 3
Group D
Remaining W Connection Scotiabank CCL matches:
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo
Tomorrow (Wednesday September 23):
Central FC vs LA Galaxy, 8pm
Current Group D standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
LA Galaxy 2 2 0 0 10 1 6
Central FC 3 1 0 2 2 6 3
Comunicaciones 3 1 0 2 1 6 3