Honduras qualifies for first World Cup since 1982

October 15, 2009

A 65th minute goal by veteran striker Carlos Pavon put Honduras into the World Cup for only the second time and first since 1982, giving “los Catrachos” a 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Wednesday and trip to South Africa.

Pavon, playing in his 93rd game for Honduras leapt above El Salvador defender Alexander Escobar at the top of the six-yard box and unleashed a strong header into the top left corner of the El Salvador goal.

The result moved Honduras into third place in the CONCACAF “hexagonal” with 16 points, same as Costa Rica but ahead on goal difference. Costa Rica appeared headed to the World Cup for the third straight time, but allowed an injury-time equalizer and drew 2-2 with the United States.

Honduras midfielder David Suazo had raced down the wing and spun in a perfect cross to Pavon, who drove the the ball past El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes.

The goal was Pavon’s Honduras career-leading 56th and also helped him avenge Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the United States, where Pavon missed a penalty kick in the 86th minute.

The strike by Pavon reversed a trend in a match where the home side had enjoyed the majority of possession and scoring chances but couldn’t get the ball past Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

In the 18th minute El Salvador had the first chance to open the scoring when midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla made a strong diagonal move across the top of the penalty area and sent a pass Arturo Alvarez.

Instead of shooting the ball, Alvarez then sent a drop pass to Christian Castillo, who unleashed a hard shot which spun wide of goal.

One minute later, the visitors appeared to have taken the lead when Suazo found himself alone in front of the El Salvador goal.

However goalkeeper Montes rushed off his line and made a spectacular save to deny the visitors.

El Salvador continued to apply pressure against the visitors and were unlucky not to convert when Castillo drew three defenders at the top of the penalty area and then sent a side-footed pass to Salvador Correas, whose effort spun just wide of the Honduras goal.

Quintanilla, who had been instrumental in the success of El Salvador, was involved in a nasty collision with Honduras defender Osman Chavez in the 30th minute and eventually limped off the field 10 minutes later, replaced by Osael Romero.

The halftime break didn’t seem to motivate the visitors any better as Valladares was called into turn away a strong long distance effort from El Salvador’s Alexander Escobar in the 54th minute and a hard point-blank shot from Arturo Alvarez just four minutes earlier.

In the 90th minute, as El Salvador continued to press, Valladares again came to the rescue pushing a long distance effort by Alvarez just over the bar.

In injury time, Deris Umanzor found himself in great position at the top of the penalty area but his effort was blocked by Julio de Leon.

At the final whistle news of the result from Washington had reached the Honduras players on the field and the thousands of fans in the stands who had travelled with their team and a wild celebration ensued.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador

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