Romell Quioto (white jersey) has a team-best four goals for Honduras in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. (Photo: AFP Services)
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – With its back up against the wall, Honduras snapped a four-game winless streak in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup thanks to Friday’s 2-1 win at Trinidad & Tobago.
The result lifted the Central American champion into a tie for third place in the Hexagonal table on eight points with the United States, which dropped a 2-0 decision to Costa Rica. Coincidentally, they will meet Tuesday at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, with the Americans holding a slight advantage on goal difference (+1 to -7).
“We hope that after this win the fans join us in the stadium. We need their support,” said Honduras forward Romell Quioto. “I think that will be the most important thing to go out and look for those three points against the United States.”
Triumphing in Trinidad wasn’t without challenges for Honduras. The Catrachos went up 2-0 prior to the first half’s midway point as Alexander Lopez (7’) and Albert Elis (16’) struck for the key goals.
T&T submitted a better performance in the second-half that saw both sides be reduced a player through ejections. Daneil Cyrus thought he put the host on the scoreboard in the 48th minute, only for his goal to be disallowed when referee Fernando Guerrero ruled he went over the back of a defender. Joevin Jones sliced into the lead by converting a 66th-minute penalty kick.
Elis also hit the right post, but that miss didn’t come back to haunt the Catrachos.
“[We’re] happy about the result. It was what we wanted and we got it thank God,” Quioto finished. “Now it’s time to recuperate and we are already thinking about Tuesday.”
