The Honduran national team beat Canada 2-1 on Monday in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League’s third Group C date, and took a big step in their aspirations to qualify for the 2023 Gold Cup.

The match was very difficult for Honduras, whose greatest virtues were knowing how to defend themselves and be hard-hitting in the few arrivals they had on the opposing goal.

Until before the match, even the most optimistic Honduran fans might not have believed that their team would beat mighty Canada, who were the first to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup in Concacaf qualifying. The Hondurans had gone at least 17 games without winning at home.

Poor pitch conditions due to rain, which began hours before the match, made the duel less clear-cut, although both teams had several chances to score in the first half.

Honduras went on the attack and dominated the game for the first seven minutes, while Canada calmed down and then started to reach the rival box.

Players from both teams had many passing inaccuracies due to the ball standing in the water from a flooded pitch.

The Hondurans took better advantage of the bad conditions on the pitch and in the 12th minute they took the victory thanks to a goal from Kevin López, after receiving a cross from the left from Romell Kioto, who together with Rubilio Castillo were the two men of head. of the Central American team.

Before, Canada had created two dangerous plays against the Honduran goal defended by Luis López.

The Honduran defense gave no liberties to skillful Alphonso Davies, one of Canada’s leading figures, who tried to come in a block and looked to surprise with shots from mid-range and team plays entering the box from the wings and the centre. .

Twice, Júnior Holitet shot wide of the Honduran goal.

In the second half, still in the rain, Canada went on the offensive and on the counter-attack Iké Ugbo was about to equalize in the 46th minute, but the Honduran defense blocked his shot.

The standing water continued to play against the two teams who, despite the adversity, showed good football, although Canada was the one who generated the most danger.

In the 62nd minute, Alphonso Davies missed a free kick, which went wide of the Honduran goal.

Honduras couldn’t find a way out and came under attack from Canada who, in the 66th minute, brought in four fresh men to try and save the game.

When Canada attacked the most, Honduran Solani Solano, who had just come on as a substitute, escaped down the right flank and, after eluding a defender, crossed for Kervin Arriaga to finish and convert the second goal of the “H”.

Canada did not give up the attack, but Honduras also had more arrivals after the second goal, with the diminutive Solano and Quioto, their captain, slipping away.

In the 85th minute, on a counter-attack, Canada saved the goal by Jonathan Davis.

The final minutes were agonizing for Honduras, who joined their side two weeks before the competition, in which they won two of three games, the first against Curacao, and lost one, against the same Caribbean rival.

At the end of the match, Canada was left with ten men due to the sending off of Alistair Jhonston, due to a double warning.

Honduras, with one game more (three), topped Group C with six points, and their return match against Canada will be in March 2023. Canada won one game and lost one, while Curacao has two defeats and one defeat. victory.

Technical sheet:

2. Honduras: Luis Lopez; Omar Elvir, Marcelo Pereira, Denil Maldonado, Carlos Meléndez (Allans Vargas m.46); Deybi Flores, Kervin Arriaga, Luis Palma (Brayan Moya m.66), Kevin López (Solani Solano m.75); Rubilio Castillo (Hector Castellanos m.75) and Romell Quioto (Brayan Róchez m.89).

Selector. Diego Vazquez.

1. Canada: Milan Borjan; Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria (Doneil Henry m.58), Alistair Jhonston, Alphonso Davies; Stephen Austaquio, Atiba Hutchinson (Mark Anthony Kaye m.58), Richie Laryea (Cyle Larin m.66), Júnior Holitet (Sam Adekugbe m.58); Ike Ugbo (Jonathan David m.58) and Tajon Buchanan.

Trainer: Jean Hermand.

Goals: 1-0, m.12: Kevin López. 2-0, m.77: Kervin Arriaga. 1-2, m.85: Jonathan Davis.

Referee: Mario Escobar, from Guatemala. He showed yellow cards to Steven Vitoria, Cyle Larin and Milan Borjan of Canada and Deybi Flores and Romell Quioto of Honduras. He also penalized Alistair Jhonston with a red card for a double warning.

Incidents: First leg match between the Honduran and Canadian teams for the Concacaf Nations League, played in the rain at the Metropolitan Olympic Stadium, in San Pedro Sula, in the north of the Central American country, in front of some supporters.