World Cup Profile: Honduras feels wind at its back heading into final round of qualifying

January 27, 2009

For those unconvinced Honduras belongs in CONCACAF’s final round of World Cup qualifying, Benfica striker David Suazo merely points to its clinching victory over Mexico.

Los Catrachos head into the final round – known by its informal “hexagonal” title – with the momentum of the 1-0 victory over Mexico on November 19 and the confidence that comes with finishing atop one of the three semifinal groups.

To qualify for the World Cup for a second time – and first since 1982 – Honduras will have to overcome Mexico again, and fellow regional powers Costa Rica and the United States to claim one of three guaranteed berths from CONCACAF. Many see it as contending for fourth place and a playoff against a South American side with El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago.

The final round of qualifying opens February 11 with Honduras travelling to face Costa Rica at San Jose’s Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.

Besides its victory over Mexico in San Pedro Sula, Honduras also led El Tri at Azteca in the semifinal round opener until a pair of goals by Pavel Pardo in the final 17 minutes rescued Mexico.

A pair of victories over Canada and another over Jamaica provided the bulk of the points to get Honduras to the hexagonal, and the win over Mexico – only its fourth in 26 matches against El Tri – assured it.

Six different players accounted for Honduras’ eight goals, three of them by midfielder Ramon Nunez. But it was Amado Guevara who was the key to the offense. Honduras’ fortunes could rest on the Toronto FC midfielder, who has a reputation for emotional play that already has cost him one game at the Central American Nations Cup.

Rueda will have his choice of Suazo, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Costly, Hendry Thomas and returning career scoring leader Carlos Pavon for scoring options.

While Honduras’ title chances at the Central American Nations Cup have been hindered by not having available European-based players such as Suazo, it has given Rueda time to test his depth.

It’s a double-edged sword also impacting Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Like the semifinal round, Honduras will open the last round of qualifying with two away matches, After Costa Rica, it will face Trinidad and Tobago at Port-of-Spain on March 28.

Long regarded as a master tactician, Rueda will need to keep his side focused and not become dispirited until it has a home crowd against Mexico on April 1. Developing a strategy to continue to capitalize on his players’ speed and predatory instincts will be critical.

If Rueda and Honduras can sustain the momentum it built to close out the semifinal round, Los Catrachos could look to possible consecutive victories over Mexico for the first time in its history.

By Vijay Setlur

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Comments

One Response to “World Cup Profile: Honduras feels wind at its back heading into final round of qualifying”

anthony on February 5th, 2009 6:17 pm

Honduras is the best team in central america as we speak… I don’t know y people is think that costa rica might be a threat.. Maybe back in 2002 but not anymore … they have no more good players

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