Marathon and Communicaciones Take Group Stage Finales; DC United and W Connection Eliminated

Group stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League concluded with two games on Thursday.

Group B:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Jerry Palacios' second-half hat trick (47', 69', 81') broke open a game that was deadlocked at halftime and paced CD Marathon to a 4-2 road win over San Juan Jabloteh which locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round for the hosts and eliminated DC United from the tournament.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Toluca (GP: 6; GD: +11; PTS: 13)
2. CD Marathon (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 12)
3. DC United (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
4. San Juan Jabloteh (GP: 6; GD: -13; PTS: 0)

Toluca and CD Marathon advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group D:

At Guatemala City:

Fredy Thompson (5') and Transito Montepeque (22') provided the goalpower as Communicaciones clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round with a 2-1 home win over already-knockout-stage-bound UNAM Pumas. As a result, W Connection were eliminated from the tournament.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. UNAM Pumas (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 13)
2. Communicaciones (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
3. W Connection (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Real Espana (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 6)

UNAM Pumas and Communicaciones advanced to the quarterfinal round.

The knockout stage will begin play during March of 2010.