THE BASICS
Houston Dynamo vs. W Connection
Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
BROADCAST INFORMATION
FOX Sports 2 - 7:00 p.m. CHANNEL LISTINGS
Univision Deportes 2 - 7:00 p.m.
PREVIEW
The Houston Dynamo resume group play in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday with an important home game against Trinidad and Tobago side W Connection at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The Dynamo currently trail Group 1 leaders Árabe Unido of Panama by two points, but have played one fewer game. A win on Wednesday would lift the Dynamo to the top of Group 1 with one game remaining. Houston faced W Connection on Aug. 20 in Trinidad and Tobago and drew 0-0 to open the current Champions League campaign.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston exploded for four second-half goals to defeat Chivas USA in their last match, a 5-1 win on Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Giles Barnes and Boniek García each scored two goals and Will Bruin added another as the Dynamo scored five goals for the third time in club history, and their first such occasion at their current home.
The Dynamo scored the opening goal off a set piece, as Brad Davis delivered a corner kick in the 39th minute and Barnes rose 10 yards from goal to snap a header past Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. It was Davis’ 100th career regular-season assist, making him the seventh player in MLS history to reach triple digits.
Eric Avila equalized for Chivas USA in the 50th minute after a Houston turnover, but that triggered a flood of Dynamo goals. Barnes, Bruin and Garcia poured on three strikes over a 25-minute stretch before a late penalty kick by Garcia wrapped up a memorable evening for the Orange.
The Dynamo currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 40 points from 29 games played, in possession of the East's final playoff spot. After a four-game winless streak in August and early September, they have now won two straight. They return to league play on Saturday with another significant conference clash at New England (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
On Tuesday striker Brian Ching announced his plan to retire at the end of the season, signaling the close of one of the most storied careers in Dynamo history.
W CONNECTION
W Connection opened the current CCL campaign with a 3-1 defeat at Árabe Unido on August 8. Trailing 3-0 after 53 minutes, 18-year-old substitute Neil Benjamin scored in the 75th minute to salvage a goal for the Savonetta Boys.
After a 0-0 home draw with the Dynamo on Aug. 20, W Connection again fell to Árabe Unido 2-0 on Sept. 19. in Panama.
The Savonetta Boys are off to a flying start in the new TT Pro League season. The club from Marabella is 2-0 and has outscored its opponents 8-0, including a 7-0 win over St. Ann’s Rangers on Sept. 14. Defender Kurt Frederick scored a hat trick in the 7-0 triumph.
W Connection qualified for the 2013-14 Champions League by winning the 2011-12 TT Pro League, which qualified them for the 2013 Caribbean Football Union's Club Championship this spring. They won their group at the CFU Club Championship to reach the Champions League.
W Connection are making their third appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League. In the 2012-13 campaign, the Savonetta Boys went 0-2-2 in the group stage against Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) and Xelajú of Guatemala. They drew both of their home games, 2-2 against Xelajú and 1-1 vs. Chivas.
