Action from the World Cup qualifier between host El Salvador and Honduras (white jersey) on March 25, 2016, in San Salvador. (Photo: FIFA.com)
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Nelson Bonilla scored late to give El Salvador (0W-2D-1L, 2 points) a 2-2 draw against Honduras (0-1-2, 1) in a World Cup qualifier on Friday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan.
The draw was the host’s second straight in fourth-round, Group A play, while Honduras picked up its first point after two losses.
With slightly more than a minute remaining in normal time, Juan Barahona delivered a left-sided cross that Bonilla headed from 14-yards out beyond diving goalkeeper Donis Escober and inside the right post for the dramatic equalizer. It was Bonilla’s fourth goal of the current qualifying campaign.
For Honduras, the sequence was a harsh blow after it had twice taken a lead.
Alberth Elis put the Catrachos ahead in the 19th minute. El Salvador goalkeeper Derby Carrillo misjudged a right-sided corner, allowing the 20-year-old Olimpia star to pound the loose ball into the back of the net from two-yards out.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time Pablo Punyed used his body and positioning to knot the score. Another long ball by Barahona found Punyed just inside the penalty box. After keeping Maynor Figueroa at bay, he fired a left-footed shot that Escober couldn’t deny even though the ball hit his hands first.
Honduras went up 2-1 in the 59th minute, when Carrillo could not control Elis’ attempt from the right side of the box, spilling it into the path of Antony Lozano, who tapped it at close range.
The Central American rivals will again on Tuesday with Honduras welcoming the Cuscatlecos to San Pedro Sula’s Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
