DIRECTV W Connection failed to hold an early grip on Group 8 of the 2012-2013 CONCACAF Champions’ League on Thursday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium by allowing Xelaju MC of Guatemala a 2-2 comeback.

Connection dominated the visitors in the first half, and after numerous openings found the back of the Xelaju net twice for a 2-0 cushion in what seemed a walkover match for the Digicel Pro League Champions.

Striker Hashim Arcia handed Connection a deserving 1-0 advantage in the 23rd minute, slotting a low shot past goalkeeper Fernando Paterson at the back post when a low cross from the left by Andrei Pacheco slipped across the six yard area, getting a slight touch from teammate Rennie Britto.

Six minutes later Paterson was forced to make a shutout against Clyde Leon, who tested the Xelaju goalie from just inside the area, and from the rebound his defense charged down a later attempt by the home side.

Connection then made it 2-0 in the 34th minute when hardworking winger Rennie Britto wrapped off some brilliant passing by the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached outfit to penetrate Xelaju, by guiding in a shot from close up.

Xelaju was on the defense from very early and was lucky not to concede just over the 15 minutes mark when Arcia tamely headed wide from close-up.

The lanky forward was at it again in the 37th minute when he took on two Xelaju defenders and unleashed a low crack from distance just missing the upright, and had an earlier headed attempt wide.

However in the second period, Connection looked less than a shadow of the previous half allowing Xelaju to find somewhat a rhythm.

Connection received a warning in the 57th minute by Xelaju when an ambitious flick by Sergio Morales from a free-kick on the right, swooshed just past the upright.

Israel Silva, Xelaju captain, then forced a save out of Jan Michael Williams, who pushed the attempt wide in the 69th minute. And from the resulting corner second half substitute Edgar Chinchilla volleyed just wide as Williams remained frozen.

Fevrier responded with three changes replacing midfielder Andrei Pacheco(Silvio Spann), Arcia(Shahdon Winchester) and defender Leslie Joel Russell(Akeem Benjamin).

Williams was motionless again in the 74th minute, as Xelaju reduced the deficit 1-2, when Chinchilla scored his first of a double, scooping a shot into the back of the net which became possible after a failed clearance by central defender Benjamin, who replaced an injured Russell a minute earlier.

Chinchilla then leveled the scores 2-2 in the 89th minute with his second on the night with a blast on goal from the edge of the area leaving Williams beaten at the first post after getting past wingback Joevin Jones.

In the end Connection had no one but themselves to blame for basically giving away what should have been a comfortable victory.

Jerrel Britto should have pulled the plug on Xelaju in the 85th minute, however with the goal at his mercy, the 20 year old hammered overbar after Winchester squared a pass across the area.

Winchester also had a go at goal five minutes earlier from a hard worked cross by Rennie Britto, but Winchester's powerful blast from an angle on the right was easily charged down by Paterson.

W Connection 2—2 Xelaju MC
Hashim Arcia 23’, Rennie Britto 34’  ;  Edgar Chinchilla 74', 89’

W Connection—Jan Michael Williams(gk)(capt.), Leslie Joel Russell(Akeem Benjamin 73rd minute), Daniel Cyrus, Kern Cupid, Joevin Jones, Gerard Williams, Clyde Leon, Andrei Pacheco(Silvio Spann 70th minute), Hashim Arcia(yellow card)(Shahdon Winchester 70th minute), Rennie Britto, Jerrel Britto

Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier

Xelaju MC—Fernando Paterson(gk), Israel Silva(capt.), Johny Giron, Fredy Taylor, Julio Estacuy(Allan Aleman 46th minute), Edwin Villatoro, Edgar Greaves(Sergio Morales 36th minute), Alex Cifuentes, Kevin Arriola(Edgar Chinchilla 60th minute), Manuel Leon, Alejandro Alpizar

Coach—Hernán Medford

CONCACAF Champions’ League 2012-2013
Full Group Stage schedule
Week One
Tuesday, July 31
CF Monterrey (MEX) vs Chorillo FC (PAN)—8pm
CS Herediano (HON) vs  Real Salt Lake (USA)—10pm

Wednesday, August 1
Toronto FC (CAN) vs CD Aguila (SLV)—8pm
Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs PR Islanders (PUR) 10pm
Tigres UANL (MEX) vs Real Esteli (NCA)—10pm

Thursday, August 2
W Connection (TRI) vs Xelaju MC (GUA)—8pm
CD Olimpia (HON) vs CD FAS (SLV)—10pm
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs Caledonia AIA(TRI)—10pm

WEEK TWO
Tuesday, August 21
Club Santos Laguna (MEX) vs CD Aguila (SLV)—8pm
Real Salt Lake (USA) vs Tauro FC (PAN)—10pm
Xelaju MC (GUA) vs Chivas Guadalajara (MEX)—10pm

Wednesday, August 22
LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs Tigres UANL (MEX)—8pm
Caledonia (TRI) vs CD Marathon (HON)—8pm
CD FAS (SLV) vs Houston Dynamo (USA)—10pm

Thursday, August 23
Chorillo FC (PAN)  vs CSD Municipal (GUA)—8pm
LA Galaxy (USA) vs Isidro Metapan (SLV)—10pm

WEEK 3
Tuesday, August 28
Toronto FC (CAN) vs Club Santos Laguna (MEX)—8pm
Real Esteli (NCA) vs LD Alajuelense (CRC)—10pm

Wednesday, August 29
Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) vs W Connection (TRI)—8pm
Caledonia AIA (TRI) vs Seattle Sounders (USA)—8pm
LA Galaxy (USA) vs PR Islanders (PUR)—10pm
CSD Municipal (GUA) vs CF Monterrey (MEX)—10pm

Thursday, August 30
Tauro FC (PAN) vs CS Herediano (CRC)—8pm
CD Olimpia (HON) vs Houston Dynamo (USA)—10pm

WEEK 4
Tuesday, September 18
Real Esteli (NCA) vs Tigres UANL (MEX)—8pm
Tauro FC (PAN) vs Real Salt Lake (USA)—10m
Xelaju MC (GUA) vs W Connection (TRI)—10pm

Wednesday, September 19
PR Islanders (PUR) vs LA Galaxy (USA)—8pm
CD Aguila (SLV) vs Club Santos Laguna (MEX)—10pm

Thursday, September 22
Houston Dynamo (USA) vs CD FAS (SLV)—8pm
CSD Municipal (GUA) vs Chorillo FC (PAN)—10pm
CD Marathon (HON) vs Seattle Sounders (USA)—10pm

WEEK 5
Tuesday, September 25
CF Monterrey (MEX) vs CSD Municipal (GUA)—8pm
CD Aguila (SLV) vs Toronto FC (CAN)—10pm
CS Herediano (CRC) vs Tauro FC (PAN)—10pm

Wednesday, September 26
W Connection (TRI) vs Chivas Guadalajara (MEX)—8pm
CD Marathon (HON) vs Caledonia AIA—10pm
LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs Real Esteli (NCA)—10pm

Thursday, September 27
PR Islanders (PUR) vs Isidro Metapan (SLV)—8pm
CD FAS (SLV) vs CD Olimpia (HON)—10pm
WEEK 6
Tuesday, October 23
Houston Dynamo (USA) vs CD Olimpia (HON)—8pm
Real Salt Lake (USA) vs CS Herediano (CRC)—10pm
Chorillo FC (PAN) vs CF Monterrey (MEX)—10pm

Wednesday, October 24
Club Santos Laguna (MEX) vs Toronto FC (CAN)—8pm
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs CD Marathon (HON)—10pm
Tigres UANL (MEX) vs LD Alajuelense (CRC)—10pm

Thursday, October 25
Chivas Guadalajara (SLV) vs Xelaju MC (GUA)—8pm
Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs LA Galaxy (USA)—10pm