MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- El Salvador rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes to force a 2-2 draw with Honduras in the Group B opener for both teams in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on Saturday.
Juan Barahona's header halved the lead in the 82nd minute, before Jose Villavicencio converted a dramatic penalty kick in an encounter between Central American rivals at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Bryan Rochez gave the Hondurans a sixth minute lead, striking from the spot after Barahona was assessed the first yellow card of the night for committing a foul in the area. The recent Orlando City SC signing drilled his shot on one bounce into the lower right corner beyond goalkeeper Carlos Cañas.
Alberth Elis doubled the Catrachos’ lead by connecting from six yards following the Salvadorans inability to clear properly a free kick from the penalty area in the 27th minute.
El Salvador tried to climb back into the game early in the second half as Josue Hernandez launched a line-drive free kick that goalkeeper Cristian Hernandez handled.
Hernandez could not stop the Cuscatlecos from netting twice late in the game.
First, Barahona headed home a Villavicencio corner kick from 10 yards in the 82nd minute.
Then, after a Honduras foul in the box, Villavicencio stepped up and powered his attempt past Hernandez to level late.
Referee Hugo Cruz handed out six yellow cards, four to Honduras and a pair to El Salvador.
The Hondurans will meet Cuba on Monday while El Salvador will face Haiti.
In the first game of Saturday's tripleheader, Mexico rolled to a 9-1 win over Cuba. Haiti met Canada in the final match of the day.
