Houston Dynamo 2 Arabe Unido 1
The hosts moved to the top of Group 1 after a come from behind victory over previous leaders Arabe. After drawing their opening encounter 0-0 with W Connection the Dynamo knew realistically they needed a win against their Panamanian opponents who had defeated the team from Trinidad & Tobago 3-1 in their first outing and that is exactly what they got.
Things did not start well however for the home side as with only 7 minutes on the clock Arabe were awarded a penalty kick. Abdiel Arroyo went down after Mike Chabala had tugged his shirt as the forward attempted to hold the ball and Costa Rican referee Hugo Cruz pointed to the spot.
Arroyo showed no hesitation in picking up the ball to take the kick himself and he made no mistake as he drove it past Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall to give his side an early lead. After 22 minutes the Dynamo were back level as Cam Weaver got the first of his brace.
Corey Ashe found space to lift a cross to the back post and Weaver was on hand to volley the ball home from close range. With 15 minutes remaining Weaver secured maximum points for his side. Some hard work from Warren Creavalle to keep possession down the left-hand side resulted in a pass to Second-half substitute Brad Davis who swung a ball to Weaver at the back post, he battled to get ahead of Árabe defender David Daniels to head off the near post and into the net.
The visitors nearly equalised with 8 minutes left to play but Hall managed to thwart Orlando Rodriguez breakaway attempt and Ashe was on hand to block the follow up effort from Enrico Small as the host held out to take the spoils.
Houston’s next CCL game is at home to W Connection on September 25 as they look to increase the advantage before heading to Panama for what looks like is going to be the game that decides who advances to the Quarter Finals.
Olimpia 0 Sporting Kansas City 2
Sporting were on their travels again this time to Honduras and as with the game in Nicaragua against Real Esteli they returned triumphantly with a 2-0 success to increase their lead further at the top of Group 2. A pair of Soony Saad goals, one in each half did the trick for the visitors.
His first came after 26 minutes as he latched on to a perfectly weighted ball over the top of hosts defense from Graham Zusi before driving into the penalty area past center back José Fonseca and slotting the ball past Noel Valladares in the Olimpia goal.
On 67 minutes KC wrapped up the points after Saad converted a penalty after Dom Dwyer had being brought down by Carlos Mejía after a lung bursting seventy yard run. Sporting’s next CCL game is at home to Real Esteli on September 17 knowing a win will almost certainly guarantee them qualification to the Quarter Final sage.