Victor Nuñez (pictured) celebrates after scoring in Herediano's 4-2 win over host Isidro Metapan in the CONCACAF Champions League on September 18, 2014, in San Salvador, El Salvador. (Photo: Salvador Melendez)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Victor Nuñez and Yendrick Ruiz scored two goals each as visiting Herediano eliminated nine-man Isidro Metapan (0-0-3, 0 points) from CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) contention with a 4-2 win in Group 7 at the Estadio Cuscatlan on Thursday.

The host needed a victory to stay alive, but has been ousted with a game at Leon (1-1-0, 4 points) left on its schedule. 

Herediano (2-1-0, 7 points) climbed into first place with seven points from three games.

With Metapan ahead 1-0, Nuñez struck in the 33rd minute after superb play around the 18-yard box.  Yosimar Arias chipped the ball into the penalty area, where Ruiz flicked it on and Nuñez poked the ball out of the air to equalize at the near post.

He added a second in the 60th minute, following up on a rebound to fire into an empty net for his fourth career CCL goal.  It came a minute after the host’s Christian Sanchez was sent off for a reckless challenge.

Ruiz made it 3-0 from the edge of the six-yard box in the 72nd minute, when Metapan failed to clear a corner kick.

Four minutes later, the two-time defending Salvadoran champion was reduced to nine men as Jonathan Barrios received a red card for an elbow.

The visitor would take capitalize on the advantage in personnel.   With two minutes remaining in normal time, Jose Sanchez delivered a cross that Ruiz headed in for his fourth goal of the current CCL campaign.

Metapan started brightly on a rainy night and must have believed fate was be on its side after Romeo Parkes’ shot from a tight angle on the right was spilled over the goal line by goalkeeper Leonel Moreira.

Catching Moreira out of position in the second minute of stoppage time, Marvin Monterrosa added a consolation goal as effort from long distance found the back of the net.

Herediano can clinch a place in the quarterfinals at home on September 24 with a win over Leon.

To view the Highlights of this game, click here.