Honduras' Alberth Elis (left) celebrates after scoring against Korea Republic in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament quarterfinals on August 13, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Honduras earned a place in the final four of a Men's Olympic Football Tournament for the first time thanks to a 1-0 win over Korea Republic in the quarterfinals on Saturday at the Estadio Mineirao.
Alberth Elis scored the only goal in the second half off Romell Quioto’s lightning-fast counterattack, while goalkeeper Luis Lopez was called upon to a series of tremendous saves, including a pair near the end of the first half that thwarted the active Son Heungmin.
In the 60th minute, Honduras got the goal it needed. Quioto gained possession 30-yards from his own goal and charged up the field to within 30 yards of the Korean net. As a trailing defender attempted to tap the ball away, Quioto slid a pass to his right for a completely unmarked Elis, who calmly slotted past goalkeeper Gu Sungyun with his right foot from 14-yards out.
The Hondurans, which was eliminated at the quarterfinal stage four years ago, will next travel to Rio de Janeiro for a semifinal encounter at the Estadio Maracana against host Brazil, which got past Colombia, 2-0.
