Fredy Taylor headed in Allan Aleman's cross with just under 15 minutes remaining and gave Xelaju a 3-2 victory over DirecTV W Connection on Tuesday to boost its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The win improved the Guatemalan side to seven points atop Group 8, four ahead of CD Guadalajara, which will travel to Trinidad next week to play W Connection. Xelaju and Chivas are set to play October 25 in the Group finale in Mexico.
The loss eliminated the Caribbean side, which remained with one point and only one game remaining.
Taylor ran at the back post and nodded in the cross from Aleman, who found time and space on the left side to turn and curl a right-footed ball across the face of goal.
Joevin Jones drew W Connection even 2-2 in the 50th, cutting inside his defender 25 meters from goal and striking a left-footed drive that curled inside the right post past diving goalkeeper Fernando Patterson.
The Guatemalan host had more of the possession and had 10 shots on goal to W Connection's two.
It generated two corners in the first minute and went ahead on own-goal in the fourth minute. Sergio Morales curled a free kick into the six-yard box and Kern Cupid headed it past his own keeper as he tried to clear it.
But W Connection recovered quickly, converting on a counter involving four players. Kemuel Rivers combined with Shahdon Winchester, who dribbled down the left before feeding Hasim Arcia.
Arcia turned and split the Xelaju defense with a low rolling ball into the area and into the path of Rennie Britto, who was able to chip his shot over a sliding Patterson.
Israel Silva put Xelaju ahead again in the 38th, getting an unchallenged header to Kevin Arriola's cross from 10 meters.
The win was the 10th straight at home for Xelaju, which has not lost at Estadio Mario Camposeco since March 19, 2011, a streak of 36 matches.
W Connection, which won't begin its league season until October 2, was coming off a 2-0 win over Defence Force in the Trinidad Charity Shield match on Saturday.
Teams
Xelajú: - 1.Fernando Patterson, 5.Fredy Santiago, 2.Johny Girón, 4.Nelson Morales (Yellow 21), 7.Edwin Villatoro (11.Allan Alemán 63rd), 10.Sergio Morales, 18.Manuel León (6.Julio Estacuy 77th), 15.Kevin Arriola, 24.Alejandro Alpízar, 13.Edgar Chinchilla (8.Edgar Greaves 61st), 9.Israel Silva.
Coach: - Hernán Medford (Costa Rica).
W Connection: - 18.Jan-Michael Williams, 5.Elijah Joseph, 6.Kemuel Rivers (4.Daneil Cyrus 46th - Yellow 90), 13.Kern Cupid (17.Andrei Pacheco 61st), 12.Gerard Williams, 36.Joevin Jones (Yellow 73), 3.Akeem Benjamin, 8.Clyde Leon, 7.Rennie Britto, 14.Hachim Arcia, 40.Shahdon Winchester (Yellow 39) (26.Stefano Rijssel 75th).
Coach: - Stuart Charles-Fevrier (St Lucia).
Referee: - Rolando Vidal (Panama).
Venue: - Estadio Mario Camposeco, Quetzaltenango.
Standings
P W T L GF GA GD Pts
Xelajú 3 2 1 0 6 4 +2 7
Guadalajara 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3
W Connection 3 0 1 2 4 9 -5 1
General Game Stats
Xelajú v W Connection
11 Shots on goal 2
10 Shots wide 7
6 Fouls 9
10 Corner Kicks 2
2 Offsides 1
56% Possession 44%