The eliminated Nicaragua national team surprised Honduras on Thursday with a 2-0 victory, which prevented them from qualifying early for the 2026 World Cup in a match played in Managua on the penultimate date of the CONCACAF qualifiers.
Honduras also failed to take advantage of Costa Rica’s 0-1 defeat against Haiti in the other Group C match played on Thursday. Despite the defeat, the Honduran national team remains the leader with 8 points, although now with the same points as Haiti. A win against Nicaragua would have given the Hondurans a ticket to the World Cup.
“Fantasma” Figueroa makes good on threat
In front of them they met a Nicaragua that, with nothing to lose, made them “the evil”.
As promised by their coach, Chilean Marco Antonio ‘Fantasma’ Figueroa.
The Blue and White coach had promised to prevent Honduras’ direct qualification in this match, and he delivered.
Nicaragua also avenged a 2-0 away defeat in the first leg.
A goal by Bancy Hernández in the 12th minute and another by Jaime Moreno in the 82nd minute put an end to the hopes of Reinaldo Rueda’s team.
Hernandez leads the way
The Blue and White took the field with no intention of giving anything away and in the 12th minute, on a counterattack, Bancy Hernández beat goalkeeper Édrick Menjívar.
In the second half, Honduras went on the attack with the intention of equalizing.
But Nicaragua responded with a defensive wall that prevented the Catrachos from reaching the penalty area.
When the H was playing at its best, Jaime Moreno scored a goal, receiving an unmarked pass in the area and scoring with his left foot.
Group C to be decided on the last date
The situation in Group C will be defined until the last matchday, because in addition to the tie in points between Honduras and Haiti (8), Costa Rica is still in the fight (with 6 points).
Nicaragua harvests only 4 points.
Costa Rica will host Honduras on November 18 and on the same day Haiti will face Nicaragua in Curaçao.
In theory, the Haitians have a better chance, but only if they beat Nicaragua and the Costa Ricans beat Honduras at home or draw between them.
Only the first of the group will qualify directly to the World Cup.
Technical data
Nicaragua: Alyer López; Josué Quijano (m.75 Junior Delgado), Justing Cano, Henry Niño, Anyelo Velázquez; Jason Coronel, Junior Arteaga (m.85 Evert Martínez), Ariel Aráuz (m.72 Marlon López), Bancy Hernández (m.72 Byron Bonilla); Juan Barrera and Jaime Moreno.
Coach: Marco Antonio Figueroa (CHI).
0. Honduras: Édrick Menjívar; Andy Nájar, Getsel Montes (m.74 Devron García), Luis Vega, Joseph Rosales; Kervin Arriaga (m.74 Jorge Álvarez), Deiby Flores, Alexy Vega (m.80 Yustin Arboleda), Romell Quioto (m.73 Dereck Moncada); Luis Palma and Jorge Benguché (m.62 Marlon Ramírez).
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda (COL).
Goals: 1-0, minute 12: Bancy Hernández. 2-0, 82nd minute: Jaime Moreno.
Referee: Ismail Elfath of the United States. He cautioned Nicaraguan Anyelo Velázquez and Hondurans Getsel Montes and M. Ramírez.
Incidents: Group C match of the final phase of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the National Soccer Stadium in Managua.
With information from EFE
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