Costa Rica (pictured) celebrates after scoring against host Honduras in a World Cup qualifier on March 28, 2017, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Earning an away result in CONCACAF qualifying for any World Cup Qualifying cycle is never easy, which makes Costa Rica’s four points in three road matches during the Hexagonal for Russia 2018 that more impressive.
On Tuesday, the Ticos (2W-1D-1L, 7 points) remained in second place after a 1-1 draw at Honduras, leaving themselves with only two more road matches out of the last six on the schedule.
Head coach Oscar Ramirez was delighted that his side navigated its travels in in such a positive manner.
“We’ve had three away and one match at home, it’s very important the point total that we take with us,” the 52-year-old said. “The complexities are still to come, but it allows us to think about getting more points because we will be the host.”
Four days prior to the Honduras stalemate, Costa Rica fell 2-0 at Mexico. Rather than let that result drag them down, the Ticos responded energetically at the Estadio Francisco Morazan.
“It was a very difficult period, with two very tough away matches,” remarked Ramirez. “We were not scared of the heat [in Honduras] because from when the match started the team was intense.”
Antony Lozano gave Honduras a first-half lead, but Kendall Waston leveled with a 68th-minute header, leaving the 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist well positioned for the remainder of its qualifying campaign.
“I think that we didn’t deserve to be losing at the end of the first half,” Ramirez concluded. “Afterwards, we adjusted and looked for the match in the second half. In some way, we had control and even more chances. Sadly, we wanted the three points, but we only take one, which is good.”
