Honduras tops T&T 4-1

September 6, 2009

SAN PEDRO SULA – Carlos Pavon scored two goals and Honduras defeated visiting Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier Saturday night at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

The win took Honduras another step closer to an automatic place in South Africa, while Trinidad is on the verge of elimination with only five points from seven games.

The Catrachos, winners of three straight, dominated play from the opening whistle, making it eight wins in eight home qualifiers.

Pavon, who plays locally with Real Espana, put Honduras ahead in the 20th minute and added another eight minutes later. The 35-year-old striker now has 22 goals in 31 all-time qualifying games.

Captain Amado Guevara crushed any hopes of a comeback by the visitors, when he made it 3-0 in the 61st minute.

Spurred on by its throng of supporters, Honduras went in search of another goal.

David Suazo quenched the fans’ thirst with an 83rd minute strike. It was the 29-year-old’s first international goal since scoring against Puerto Rico on June 14, 2008. He has recently returned to fitness after a lengthy spell away from the game following an injury while on loan at Portugal’s Benfica last season.

Five minutes before time, Kerry Baptiste secured a consolation goal for the Soca Warriors, but it really was a case of too little, too late.

Next up for Honduras, which now tops the CONCACAF qualifying table with 13 points after Mexico’s win at Costa Rica later in the evening, is a showdown against El Tri in Mexico City on Wednesday. Trinidad hosts the USA on the same day.

Source

Tags: amado guevara, captain Amado Guevara, Carlos Pavon, concacaf, consolation, Costa Rica, David Suazo, el tri, estadio olimpico, five points, Honduras, international goal, june 14, Kerry, Mexico, mexico city, portugal, Puerto Rico, san pedro sula, seven games, soca warriors, South Africa, striker, thirst, throng, Tobago, Tri, Trinidad, USA, verge, whistle, world cup qualifier

Honduras and T&T confident ahead of WCQ

September 4, 2009

The climb is still steep, the odds long, but Trinidad & Tobago is confident ahead of Saturday night’s World Cup qualifier against Honduras in San Pedro Sula following a critical 1-0 victory against El Salvador on Aug. 12.

The Soca Warriors are tied with El Salvador at the bottom of the final hexagonal stage, but are just four points behind fourth-place Mexico.

The top three teams from the group automatically qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth place team faces the fifth place finisher from South American in a playoff.

“I expect it to be a difficult game, but no game is an easy one,” Trinidad coach Russell Latapy told reporters at Ramón Villeda Morales Airport in San Pedro Sula. “Honduras has some good players and they are coming off a good result as well. We have some work to do because there is a game to be played on Saturday.”

The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Port of Spain in March, with Khaleem Hyland striking for the equalizer two minutes from full time after Carlos Pavon put the visitors in front on 50 minutes.

Bolton Wanderers defender Jlloyd Samuel is one of 10 overseas players in contention for the Soca Warriors, including Fulham striker Bobby Zaomora, who will undergo a fitness test.

“It’s obviously going to be a difficult game, but I expect it will be the same for the two teams,” Trinidad & Tobago veteran Dwight Yorke said. “We haven’t lost to them in this campaign and they haven’t had much success at home in World Cup football. But I think it’s going to be a very exciting game and a tough one for either team.”

Honduras is buoyed by the return of Inter Milan’s David Suazo, who has been sidelined since the spring after suffering a knee injury playing for Portugal’s Benfica.

“I am very pleased with the confidence that [Honduran coach Reinaldo Rueda] has given me,” Suazo told reporters. “I tell you I have been good and committed. I come in good condition and I hope that the professor can count on me.”

Los Catrachos celebrated a historic and stunning 4-0 victory against group-leading Costa Rica at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano on Aug. 12 and move into a tie for second place with the United States in the standings, two points behind the Ticos.

“The patience in us will be important and we should handle this game as we did against Costa Rica,” Honduran captain Amado Guevara said. “The goal is near and we must continue to strive to achieve the goal.”

By Dylan Butler

Tags: bolton wanderers, captain Amado Guevara, Carlos Pavon, coach russell, David Suazo, dwight yorke, El Salvador, fifa world cup, fitness test, four points, fulham, Honduras, hyland, inter milan, jlloyd samuel, knee injury, Milan, place finisher, port of spain, portugal, reinaldo rueda, russell latapy, s david, Samuel, san pedro sula, san pedro sula honduras, soca warriors, South American, Tobago, Trinidad, world cup football, world cup qualifier

PENDING: Mexico seek vital victory over US at Azteca

August 12, 2009

Mexico will seek to continue its dominance over the United States at Azteca Stadium on Wednesday as the CONCACAF regional rivals clash in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

Mexico go into the match lying in fourth place in the six-nation final group, from which three teams advance directly to the World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-placed team must play off against a team from South America for a berth.

Costa Rica leads North American regional qualifying with 12 points to 10 for the US squad. Honduras is third with Mexico in fourth.

Mexico received a massive morale boost heading into the match with a 5-0 victory over the United States in the Gold Cup final on July 26.

But that was against a young US side that didn’t include stars such as Landon Donovan.

On Wednesday US coach Bob Bradley will field a full-strength team as the Americans vie for a first-ever victory over Mexico at Azteca. They have only managed one draw there – a goalless draw in a 1997 World Cup qualifier.

“The difficulty is everything but the soccer,” Donovan said of the challenge of taking on Mexico at Azteca – where the altitude, poor air quality and fiercely partisan crowd of 100,000 all play a role.

“They use all of the outside influences to their advantage, but that?s not an excuse anymore for us. We?re not going to use it as an excuse.

“We?re not going for a point,” Donovan said. “We?re going there to win the game and we?re going to keep playing the way we?re playing.”

Donovan was referring to the form that has seen the United States win three of their five qualifiers to date, and reach the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Bradley has recalled an number of players who skipped the Gold Cup, including defender Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan, Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey, Hull’s Jozy Altidore and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Donovan.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre’s squad includes his Gold Cup champions along with defender Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Andres Guardado (Deportivo la Coruna) and veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire).

Aguirre replaced Sven Goran Eriksson in April and after a defeat at El Salvador saw his side down Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying on June 10.

Despite Mexico’s struggles in this qualifying campaign, Aguirre insists his side have what it takes.

“It?s not a dark scenario,” he said. “Why the heck were we going to be out of the World Cup? They have to give us a chance. If there was one game left and we had to win and have two rivals lose, then I would say it was tough. But things are different. Things have improved.”

Costa Rica will be trying to maintain their spot atop the standings when they travel to Honduras, while Trinidad and Tobago host El Salvador.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda, who also turned to a young squad in the Gold Cup, has recalled his best to take on the Ticos in the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

David Suazo of Inter Milan is still out with a leg injury, but Rueda has the services of captain Amado Guevara from Toronto FC, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios, Parma?s Julio de Leon, Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon.

Honduras have seven points from five matches. While they are lying third, they are three points behind the United States, just one in front of Mexico and only two ahead of El Salvador – who will be seeking to gain ground at winless Trinidad and Tobago.

MEXICO CITY (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Altidore, Andres Guardado, andres guardado deportivo la coruna, azteca stadium, bob bradley, captain Amado Guevara, Carlo Costly, Carlos Pavon, carlos salcido, carlos salcido psv, carlos salcido psv eindhoven, Chicago, Clint Dempsey, coach bob, Costa Rica, cup champions, David Suazo, final group, fulham, HULL, Javier Aguirre, jozy altidore, Julio de Leon, landon donovan, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Mexico, mexico city, Milan, partisan crowd, poor air quality, reinaldo rueda, san pedro sula, South America, Sven Goran Eriksson, Tobago, world cup finals, world cup qualifier

No room for testing, Rueda calls everybody for qualifier against Costa Rica

August 11, 2009

After fielding a young squad that advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda has called his first choice XI for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against group-leading Costa Rica.

Inter Milan’s David Suazo is still out with a leg injury, but captain Amado Guevara from Toronto FC, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios, Parma’s Julio de Leon join veterans Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon on the Catrachos squad to take on the Ticos in the 50th edition of the Clasico Centroamericano at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

“They know us very well and we know them, but it all depends on what you do, not Costa Rica, but what we do,” Guevara told La Prensa. “I think that is the key to the game.”

Honduras has seven points from five matches and is currently third in six-team group, three points behind the United States. However, the Catrachos are just one point in front of Mexico, which is home for a clash against the United States at Estadio Azteca, and two points ahead of El Salvador, which is at winless Trinidad & Tobago.

“At this point they’re all tough games, but our meetings with Honduras are always extra intense,” Costa Rica coach Rodrigo Kenton told FIFA.com. “We’ll just have to focus and get back to the form we had that brought us to first place.”

Costa Rica has the slight edge in the all-time series between the neighboring counties, winning 19, losing 14 with 16 draws since 1930. But the Ticos have enjoyed a distinct advantage of late, playing in the last two World Cups and firmly establishing its place among the top teams in CONCACAF.

“El Lobo”Guevara is aware of the history.

“In 50 years, we have only won twice,” Guevara said.

The Ticos sit atop the group in the final hexagonal stage with 12 points from five matches, including a 3-1 victory against the United States on June 3 in Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose.

Costa Rica has not lost to Honduras since 2005, but Kenton is aware of Catrachos’ confidence, especially playing in San Pedro Sula where they have won six consecutive qualifying matches.

“Honduras (is) a strong team physically, and they are always difficult at home,” he told FIFA.com “They’re technical and they move the ball around very well. We’ll need to be aware of that.”

While his team has historically struggled against Costa Rica, Honduran midfielder Ramon Nunez is hoping his team’s recent form at home can continue.

“Here at home we must be invincible,” Nunez said. “We hope that the streak will continue and hopefully be a great game.”

By Dylan Butler

Tags: amado guevara, captain Amado Guevara, Carlo Costly, Carlos Pavon, concacaf gold cup, Costa Rica, cup semifinals, David Suazo, distinct advantage, Dylan Butler, el lobo, estadio azteca, Honduras, inter milan, Julio de Leon, leg injury, metropolitano, Mexico, Milan, Ramon Nunez, reinaldo rueda, Rica, s david, San Jose, san jose costa rica, san pedro sula, ticos, Trinidad, Wilson, wilson palacios, world cup qualifier

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.

Go to Source

Tags: amado guevara, backline, captain Amado Guevara, Carlos Pavon, Central American, club necaxa, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, de leon, El Salvador, Goalkeeper, Honduras, insurance goal, julio cesar, Julio Cesar De Leon, Mexico, midfielder, midpoint, Miguel Montes, montes, Noel Valladares, open goal, pounced, Ramon Nunez, rebound, reinaldo rueda, san pedro sula, san pedro sula honduras, seven points, Toledo, trinidad and tobago, U.S., United States, valladares, whistle, yellow cards

El Salvador advances to Central American Nations Cup semis, qualifies for Gold Cup despite loss to Honduras

January 27, 2009

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – El Salvador surrendered a goal in each half and lost 2-0 to Honduras on Monday, but still advanced to the semifinals of the Central American Nations Cup and a sixth trip to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

El Salvador was assured of its place in the final four of the Copa de Naciones Digicel de UNCAF earlier Monday when Nicaragua and Belize drew 1-1. The results finished host Honduras with a third victory in as many games and nine points atop Group A, five ahead of Honduras. Nicaragua edged out Belize for third with two points, one ahead of the Jaguars.

The draw extended Belize’s streak of never having qualified for the Gold Cup, but earned Nicaragua another chance at its first. It will face either Panama or Guatemala on Thursday night for fifth place in the UNCAF cup and the last berth in CONCACAF’s biennial championship.

Carlos Pavon, who set up both goals in Honduras’ opening night victory over Belize, scored his first of the tournament with a penalty in the 34th minute for the only goal the Catrachos needed. Marvin Chavez added another in the 73rd to complete the victory as captain Amado Guevara returned to the side after having to sit out Saturday’s match against Nicaragua due to a red card against Belize.

El Salvador next faces Costa Rica in Friday’s semifinals, with Honduras to face either Panama or Guatemala. Panama and Guatemala were to face off Tuesday night with the winner advancing.

A draw would send Guatemala through.

In the earlier game, Juan Berrera scored in the 66th minute for Nicaragua, giving the Pinoleros a chance to match its highest finish in the Central American championship. Byron Usher scored in the 27th minute for Belize, which has never won a game in the Central American cup finals or qualifying and fell to 0-3-14.

Go to Source