PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — W Connection bowed out of the CONCACAF Champions League at the Group stage here Tuesday night after going down 1-0 to Santos Laguna of Mexico in a contest at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Entering the game needing to win in order to remain alive in the competition, the hosts were felled by a second-minute strike from Andres Renteria and never recovered.

W Connection produced a sustained assault on Santos Laguna’s goal early in the second half as they searched for the equaliser, but the visitors held firm to come away with the result.

The victory took Santos top of Group A alongside Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, also on six points. The two teams will clash on October 20 to determine the group winners.

W Connection could not have hoped for a worst start to the encounter. With the game hardly underway, Bryan Rabello sent a searching corner kick into the six-yard box which ricocheted off defender Tristan Hodge’s left thigh. The ball fell to Renteria who calmly slotted home with the right boot from near point-blank range.

Santos, twice in the space of the 21st minute, had the chance to double their lead, but where thwarted on both occasions by goalkeeper Julani Archibald.

First, he denied Renteria’s blast from 23 yards and then did well to also keep out Diego Gonzalez’s 30-yard drive.

W Connection, however, nearly found themselves back on level terms moments later. Dimitrie Apai surged down the right, beat his marker and unleashed his shot, only for goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin to pull off a block with his legs.

Still down at half-time, the hosts mounted an admirable fightback as they attacked with verve early on.

Shahdon Winchester was denied in the 56th minute when his shot from 12 yards was kept out by Adrian Aldrete, and Alvin Jones had a shot also saved moments later before St Lucian Kurt Frederick’s long-range left-footer was unconvincingly pushed away for a corner by Marchesin in the 62nd minute.

Santos then slowed things down and controlled the game to ensure they came away with the points.