LUBLIN, Poland – Honduras was unable to overcome a slow start to its 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign as it dropped its Group C opener to New Zealand, 5-0, on Friday afternoon at the Lublin Stadium in Lublin.
It was a frustrating first half-hour for the Catrachos, who fell behind 3-0 before the first 30 minutes had elapsed.
They found themselves down 1-0 in the eighth minute when a deep cross into the area was turned into the net by Honduran DF Darwin Diego.
The momentum stayed with New Zealand and the Kiwis took a 2-0 lead in the 17’ when Ben Waine hammered home Elijah Just’s cross from the left.
Waine would once again do damage in the 27’ and gave New Zealand a 3-0 lead by heading in a cross from the left at the far post.
New Zealand kept its foot on the pedal to start the second half and Sarpeet Singh extended the advantage to 4-0 in the 50’ by running onto a cross from the right and firing in a shot that defected off the leg of Honduran GK Jose Garcia and into goal.
Matt Conroy then capped New Zealand’s day with a curling left-footed finish in the 90+1’ to complete the 5-0 scoreline.
Honduras will look to rebound on Monday versus Uruguay.
