By Dylan Butler

MARABELLA, Trinidad - Hughton Hector's 72nd-minute equalizer off a defensive miscue lifted W Connection to a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in the opening leg of a CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round series at Manny Ramjohn Stadium Thursday night.

The teams travel to Giants Stadium on Wednesday for the second leg with the Red Bulls holding the advantage of two away goals.

"It was a very important game for us due to the circumstances and as difficult as this season has been," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "We're really pleased with the effort from the guys tonight and very proud of the point that we got here."

The Red Bulls, who have won only two of 21 league games this season and extended their winless streak to 14 games, dominated possession after the break and were rewarded with a pair of goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half after falling behind late in the first half.

In his Red Bulls debut, Ernst Obster scored the equalizer in the 48th. The Austrian put a right-footed shot that deflected off Kern Cupid's arm and past W Connection goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams. Angel started the scoring sequence by slipping a ball into Richards, and the Jamaican international played the ball back into the box where Obster struck from 16 meters.

"I'm happy to make my debut, but I'm not happy with my whole game," Obster said. "I think I can play better. I'm happy I scored. It was an awful goal. I usually only use my right foot to stay."

Alfredo Pacheco then sent a cross that took a double deflection and went off the leg of lunging W Connection captain Elijah Joseph, up and over Williams to give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 60th.

"That's football," the W Connection captain said. "To give up that chance you can say it's unlucky because they never penetrated us to get those goals. It's through our own mistakes."

But Pacheco's defensive gaffe led to W Connection's equalizer as the Salvadoran missed an attempted diving header. Hector pounced on the ball, firing it over the right shoulder of Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero and off the left post in the 72nd minute.

"In the last 20 minutes after they went 2-1 up, I thought we showed character," W Connection coach Stuart Charles Fevrier said. "We did not drop our heads."

The Savonetta Boys jumped in front five minutes before halftime when Jonathan Fana Frias crashed the back post and tapped in a Hector corner kick that Angel headed off his own crossbar.

New York had an excellent chance to equalize in the 44th minute when Dane Richards, who was active on the right flank the entire 45 minutes, got off a cross in front of goal. But Angel's header was saved by Williams.

Just two minutes into the game, Richards had a step on his defender, but his cross to the far post couldn't connect with Angel, who fell hard to the grass following a collision.

Ten minutes later, Renato Pereira had W Connection's first chance, but his glancing header off a free kick was wide.

In the 18th minute, Frias sliced into the box and fed William Silva De Oliveira, but his attempt sailed over the bar.

Three minutes later, Jorge Rojas nearly put the visitors in front, but his shot from 22 meters deflected out for a corner. One minute later, Rojas targeted the far post from distance, but Williams made the save. The ball momentarily squirted loose, but the Trinidadian international pounced on the rebound.

The winner of the aggregate series advances to the group stage, joining Pumas UNAM (Mexico), Comunicaciones (Guatemala) and the winner of the series between Liberia (Costa Rica) and Real Espana (Honduras) in Group D.

"We're happy with the point on the road and obviously two goals away is positive for us," Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler said. "Going into this game we wanted to be refocused obviously with the MLS season not going as smoothly as we like. It's a good result so far, but we still have some work to do."