Football
ESPN staff 8y

New York Red Bulls beat Antigua; Pumas too much for W Connection FC

The New York Red Bulls took advantage of their home field in Harrison, New Jersey, to ease to a 3-0 CONCACAF Champions League win over Antigua in the teams' Group F opener.

An Alejandro Galindo own goal got the visitors off on the wrong foot in the 14th minute and the problems were compounded eight minutes later when Sixto Betancourt was shown a red card for violent conduct.

With Antigua down to 10 men, the Red Bulls looked in total control and they found the goal to double the lead in the 62nd minute when Kemar Lawrence passed to Alex Muyl in the center of the box for New York's No. 19 to power home a shot to the upper-left corner.

With the game in hand for the hosts, Sacha Kljestan added a third for good measure in the 79th minute with an assist going to Gonzalo Veron.

Liga MX side Pumas got off to a winning start in Group A beating Trinidad & Tobago club W Connection FC 4-2.

Luis Quintana put the visitors in front in the 10th minute, blasting home to the top right corner from a difficult angle to make it 1-0.

Undaunted, the hosts levelled the score just ahead of the break when Hughton Hector was on target from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top left corner of Alfredo Saldivar's goal.

But it was all Pumas in the second half as goals from Jose Van Rankin, Alfonso Nieto and Omar Islas earned Francisco Palencia's team all three points.

The Portland Timbers survived a minor scare at home from Salvadoran side CD Dragon but managed to take all three points with a late goal from Diego Valeri.

Jack McInerney opened the scoring in the 21st minute for the hosts, only to see CD Dragon draw level in the 76th minute when Kenroy Howell headed home.

Valeri's headed attempt just before full-time was knocked back to his feet and the Timbers' No. 8 tapped home to give his team the win.

Monterrey ran roughshod over Haitian club Don Bosco in a 3-0 win to start play in Group D.

Goals from Edwin Cardona, Yimmi Chara and Aldo De Nigris before half-time made for an easy second 45 for the Liga MX visitors.

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