Nicaragua (pictured) gathers for a team photo prior to its Central American under-17 qualifier against Honduras on November 21, 2016, in Pavas, San Jose, Costa Rica.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Nicaragua (1W-0D-1L, 3 points) put itself in contention for a place in the 2017 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship with a 3-2 win over Honduras (2-0-1, 6) in the nightcap of a Central American qualifying doubleheader on Monday at the Estadio Ernesto Rohrmoser.

The result knocked Honduras from the ranks of the unbeaten (2-0-1, 6) and meant that the Nicaraguans can progress with victories in their last two games against already-eliminated Belize (November 24) and El Salvador (November 26).

After Luis Enrique Palma gave Honduras a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, Nicaragua responded with three unanswered goals. Strikes by Engel Balladares (68’), Stward Castillo (77’ pen) and Sergio Rodriguez (84’) put the Pinoleros ahead 3-1 during a 16-minute, second-half stretch. Patrick Palacios (90’+1) pulled one back for the Hondurans in stoppage time with his second goal of the tournament.

In the opener, El Salvador edged Belize (0-0-3, 0), 2-1, with all the goals being scored prior to halftime. Ronald Cerritos (4’) gave the Salvadorans an early 1-0 advantage. With the first-half clock winding down, Belize leveled through Jesse August (41’), before a 43rd-minute penalty kick by Christian Barillas completed the scoreline.

The competition, which will be played through November 26, resumes Thursday with Belize-Nicaragua
Costa Rica-El Salvador encounters.

The top three finishers earn berths to the CONCACAF event that is slated to be contested in Panama from April 21-May 7, 2017. In addition to the host, the other eight participating teams are Canada, Cuba, Curacao, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Suriname and the United States.

2016 CENTRAL AMERICAN UNDER-17 QUALIFYING
Estadio Ernesto Rohrmoser -- San Jose, Costa Rica
November 17-26, 2016

November 17, 2016
El Salvador 0, Honduras 2
Carlos Mejia 52’ pen; Jose Canaca 90’+4

Costa Rica 4, Belize 0
Christian Muñoz 7’; Jeurgen Sequeira 46’; Mario Mora 49’, 89’

November 19, 2016
Honduras 3, Belize 1
David Cardona 9’; Patrick Palacios 58’; Kenneth Martinez 72’ / Gabriel Ramos 16’ pen

Costa Rica 6, Nicaragua 0
Andres Gomez 13’, 60’, 73’, 78’; Christian Muñoz 32’; Mario Mora 52’

November 21, 2016
Belize 1, El Salvador 2
Jesse August 41’ / Ronald Cerritos 4’; Christian Barillas 43’ pen

Nicaragua 3, Honduras 2
Engel Balladares 68’; Stward Castillo 77’ pen; Sergio Rodriguez 84’ / Luis Enrique Palma 39’; Patrick Palacios 90’+1

Table

1.- Costa Rica 2-2-0-0-10-0-6
2.- Honduras 3-2-0-1-7-4-6
3.- El Salvador 2-1-0-1-2-3-3
4.- Nicaragua 2-1-0-1-3-8-3
5.- Belize 3-0-0-3-2-9-0

November 24, 2016
Belize v Nicaragua
Costa Rica v El Salvador

November 26, 2016
El Salvador v Nicaragua
Costa Rica v Honduras