GUATEMALA (AP) — Valentín “Taty” Castellanos and Talles Magno scored crucial goals on the other's court and New York City FC advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals despite falling to Comunicaciones on Tuesday 4-2.
The MLS team won 3-1 last week in the first leg of the quarterfinals, held in Hartford, Connecticut.
After long episodes of suffering in Guatemala, the New York team will face in the phase following the winner of the match between the Seattle Sounders and the Lion of Mexico. The American squad has a 3-0 lead before Thursday's match in the Leonese fief.
Argentinian Castellanos, winner of the MLS Golden Boot in the previous season, scored his fourth goal of the regional contest with a 31-minute free kick.
Andrés Lezcano tied by a goal just before the intermission.
The Brazilian Talles Magno returned the lead to the visitors with a header in the 53rd minute, after a cross from “Taty”. However, Nicolás Samayoa equaled again at 69.
Lynner Garcia and José Contreras scored in the final stages for the hosts, but that was not enough to overcome the NYCFC away goal advantage
Communications eliminated the Colorado Rapids in the round of 16 to advance. NYCFC had eliminated Santos de Guapiles from Costa Rica.