The Honduran national team conceded a goalless draw in San Pedro Sula on Thursday to Costa Rica in the third round of Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and facilitated the promotion of Haiti, which hours earlier defeated Nicaragua 3-0 away.
Haiti and Honduras lead with 5 points in the same order, Costa Rica accumulates three and Nicaragua closes with 1.
Tico defense neutralizes offensive power
Costa Rica presented a defensive approach, to deny Honduras freedom, which sought to reach the right with Andy Najar, and Joseph Rosales, accompanying Luis Palma on the left, looking for Romell Quioto and Jorge Benguché, who prowled the opponent’s area.
A deflected shot by Jorge Benguché in the 39th minute and another by Romell Quioto, just inside the right post, in the 43rd minute, were Honduras’ only dangerous chances.
Costa Rica, which was looking to counterattack, with Alonso Martínez up front, also failed to take direct shots at the Honduran goal defended by Édrick Menjívar.
Close game with no clear emotions
Goalkeepers Edrick Menjívar of Honduras and Keylor Navas of Costa Rica were more spectators than anything else in the first half.
In the second half, the game started with Costa Rica also unhurried and always closed in defense, while Honduras, with more possession of the ball, tried without success to break the deadlock.
Every Honduran shot was met by an orderly and secure Costa Rican defense.
In the 70th minute, new substitute Luis Vega shot wide to the left of Costa Rica’s goal.
Zamora came close to giving him the win
Costa Rica’s most dangerous Costa Rican move came in the 80th minute, when Álvaro Zamora smashed the ball into the horizontal after receiving a pass from the left.
And in the 83rd minute he once again put the Honduran goalkeeper in trouble.
Two direct shots from Honduran attackers went into the hands of Keylor Navas, while others were off target.
Next Monday Honduras will host Haiti and Costa Rica will host Nicaragua, which has one draw and two losses.
Technical data
0. Honduras: Édrick Menjívar; Andy Najar, Getsel Montes (Luis Vega, m.68), Marcelo Santos, Joseph Rosales; Deybi Flores, Kervin Arriaga, Jorge Álvarez (Alexander López, m.60), Romell Quioto; Luis Palma (Alexi Vega, m.80) and Jorge Benguché (Yustin Arboleda, m.60).
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.
0. Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Jeyland Mitchell (Haxzel Quirós, 46th minute), Alexis Gamboa, Francisco Calvo, Juan Pablo Vargas; Kendall Waston, Orlando Galo, Aaron Murillo, Jocimar Alcócer; Alonso Martínez (Álvaro Zamora, 72nd minute) and Manfred Ugalde (Carlos Mora, 46th minute).
Coach: Miguel Herrera.
Referee: Walter López, of Guatemala. Yellow cards for Getsel Montes and Yustin Arboleda, of Honduras, and Orlando Galo, Manfred Ugalde and Alexis Gamboa, of Costa Rica.
Incidents: Match of the third day of Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the Francisco Morazán Stadium, in San Pedro Sula, in front of more than 15,000 spectators.
With information from EFE
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