MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- Honduras broke open a scoreless stalemate by striking twice within five minutes in the second half en route to a 3-0 Group B victory over Cuba in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on Monday.
Alberth Elis, John Suazo and Jhow Benavidez tallied in the second half at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
The Hondurans (1-1-0, 4 points) remained unbeaten, while Cuba (0-0-2, 0 points) is still looking for its first point.
Goalkeeper Roberto Lopez secured the shutout, although defender Luis Santos made the defensive of the game for the Central Americans in the 78th minute. An onrushing Frank Lopez fired a shot that got past Lopez, but Santos managed to clear it off the line and out of bounds for a corner kick.
Elis opened the scoring in 60th minute against goalkeeper Delvis Lumpuy, who had entered the match a minute prior for the injured Eller Pozo. It was 18-year-old’s second goal in as many games, having found the back of the net in Saturday's 2-2 draw with El Salvador.
Five minutes later, Suazo, a second-half substitute, scored from eight yards to give the Catrachos a two-goal advantage.
Benavidez added a goal off a counterattack in the 82nd minute.
Cuba produced the first scoring chance in the eighth minute, when Lopez parried a shot off the crossbar. Roberney Caballero swooped in to bury the rebound from six yards, but he was ruled to be offside.
In the 30th minute, Elis missed a great opportunity, heading a left-wing feed from point-blank range wide right of the net.
Benavidez tried to chip Pozo from midfield in the 23rd minute, only to see his attempt sail just over the net.
Cuban captain David Urgelles was denied as his close-range header was knocked away by Lopez.
Honduras will meet Mexico in the third Group B date on Thursday while Haiti takes on Cuba.
