Pavon lifts Honduras over Central American rival El Salvador 1-0

June 11, 2009

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — A first-half strike by Honduras midfielder Carlos Pavon gave the Los Catrachos a 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Wednesday night and leaving them in CONCACAF’s last guaranteed place for next year’s World Cup as the “hexagonal” reached its midpoint.

The win moved Honduras ahead of the visiting Cuscatlecos into third place with seven points from five matches, one ahead of Mexico and two better than El Salvador, which slumped to fifth.

Pavon, who plays with Mexican Primera League club Necaxa, pounced on a rebound in front of El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes in the 15th minute.

Honduras captain Amado Guevara took the initial shot from the top of the penalty area, forcing Montes into a save but giving up a rebound that fell to Pavon.

The match was very physical with U.S. referee Baldomero Toledo handing out seven yellow cards, four to Honduras and three to El Salvador, and five cautions coming in the opening half.

Most of El Salvador’s chances were limited to shots from distance and crosses from the penalty area which rarely tested Honduras keeper Noel Valladares or backline while Honduras enjoyed the majority of the possession.

Honduras began the second half with a lengthy possession spell, but El Salvador absorbed the pressure and a dangerous chance from Ramon Nunez, who broke into the penalty area and sent a shot just wide in the 57th minute.

In the 67th minute, Pavon nearly set up a second goal for Honduras. He darted into the penalty area and spun a hard shot in front of Montes, while onrushing midfielder Julio Cesar De Leon couldn’t get his foot to the ball in front of a wide open goal.

Guevara nearly had a chance to add an insurance goal in injury as he sprinted the length of the field but his shot from the top of the penalty are lofted well over the bar just seconds before the final whistle.

Ahead of the opening kick off Honduras’ Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda indicated that his side was taking a must-win approach to the match after their loss to the United States, and El Salvador’s upset of Mexico over the weekend.

El Salvador plays their next match in the qualifying round on August 12 when they travel to Trinidad and Tobago while Honduras faces Costa Rica at home in San Pedro Sula.

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