By Dylan Butler

His team has won the Digicel Pro League and the CFU Club Championship three times apiece, but W Connection coach Stuart Charles Fevrier said beating the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night was the greatest win in the Trinidad & Tobago club's 23-year history.

That's because the Savonetta Boys advance to the CONCACAF Champions League group stage, giving the squad more chances to compete against some of the region's best teams.

"The players, as you can see, are extremely happy," Fevrier said after the match. "We are a club with very limited resources. We have been able to dig deep in this situation and all I can say is it's a credit to the players. I want everyone in Trinidad & Tobago to know we are very happy and proud to represent Trinidad & Tobago in this game today."

By scoring two away goals last week at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, the New York Red Bulls had a distinct advantage heading into the home leg. And when John Wolyniec, starting in place of an injured Juan Pablo Angel, scored on 19 minutes, it looked like Major League Soccer would have four teams in the group stage.

But that all changed in a six-minute span late in the first half when Andre Toussaint struck twice for W Connection, which advances to Group D to face Pumas UNAM from Mexico, Honduras' Real Espana and Comunicaciones from Guatemala.

"It means a lot to us because now we're playing more international games," W Connection captain Elijah Joseph said.  "It will build up our confidence as a team."

W Connection is joined by fellow Trinidadian squad San Juan Jabloteh, which used a second-half brace by Marvin Oliver and a goal from Hector Sam to defeat Panama's San Francisco FC, 3-0, on Thursday at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Trinidad, to advance 3-2 on aggregate. In the 23rd minute, San Francisco was reduced to 10 players, when defender Carlos Rivera was sent off for kicking a ball into Oliver's head.

Jabloteh join Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras and D.C. United in Group B, opening at home against Toluca on August 20.

Thanks to a hat trick by Carlos Pavon, Real Espana joined fellow Honduran side Marathon in the group stage, rallying to beat Liberia Mia on Thursday night in San Pedro Sula.

Real Espana trailed 3-0 after the opening leg, but Pavon, a longtime Honduran international, scored three goals and helped set up two others leading the Aurinegros to a stunning 6-0 victory.

Real Espana will meet W Connection at home in its first group stage match on August 20.

On a first half goal by Victor Mendieta, Arabe Unido also rallied from an opening-leg defeat to beat visiting CD Olimpia of Honduras, 1-0, in La Chorrera and advance with a 1-0 advantage on away goals. Making its first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League, the Panamanian squad will host Mexican squad Pachuca on August 19 in its Group A opener.

Ulises Mendivil scored three goals as Pachuca routed Jalapa, 7-1, in Guatemala on Wednesday, advancing 10-1 on aggregate.

Fellow Mexican side Cruz Azul, a finalist in last year's inaugural tournament, played Herediano to a goalless draw in Mexico City Wednesday, but easily advanced 6-2 on aggregate and will join Group C with the Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica and the Puerto Rico Islanders. It will open at home against Saprissa on August 19.

"The objective was to get through to the next stage and we achieved that," Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza said. "It's great to participate in international tournaments."

Puerto Rico, which made a stunning run to the semifinals last year before being ousted by Cruz Azul on penalties, returns to the group stage after beating Toronto FC from Major League Soccer, 1-0, on aggregate after a scoreless draw in Bayamon Tuesday.

The Islanders will face MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew on August 18 in their first group stage match.

"Last year we might have caught a few people by surprise, but that wasn't the case this year," Puerto Rico coach Colin Clarke said. "Toronto, a very good team, a tough match-up, but we're absolutely delighted."

D.C. United did what no other MLS team has been able to do as they advanced out of the preliminary round on penalty kicks, edging Luis Angel Firpo Tuesday night. D.C., which struggled in last year's group stage, head to Marathon on August 18 for its first match.

"I want to credit Firpo. I thought they were a very good team," D.C. coach Tommy Soehn said. "I watched a lot of their games in the past and tonight they played quality ball. It's disappointing for them. Anytime it goes to penalties, it's a difficult situation for either one that loses. It's almost not fair."