GLENDALE, Arizona -- Last month, Mexico recorded a 3-0 home win over Honduras in FIFA World Cup qualifying.
On Thursday night, the Tricolor could have their hands full with the Central American champion in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio noted that the Central Americans have 15 players on their Gold Cup roster that participated in qualifying. Mexico, on the other hand, has deployed a less experienced squad after its participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
In the five overall meetings between them, the Mexican have avoided defeat each time, going 3W-2D-0L and conceding no goals. However, in their five-match Gold Cup series, Mexico holds a slight 2-1 advantage in wins.
Here are some storylines to watch:
- Defending champion Mexico is targeting a sixth straight trip to the Gold Cup semifinals.
- Mexico has conceded only one goal in its last five Gold Cup quarterfinal games. Can it keep a Honduras team that is yet to find the back of the net in a game (three goals from forfeit win against French Guiana excluded) off the scoreboard?
- Honduras has scored one goal in each of its last four Gold Cup appearances. Will one be enough against Mexico?
- Excluding the forfeit victory against French Guiana, Honduras is winless in its last six Gold Cup games. What better way to get back than by beating the seven-time champion?
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Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio on facing Honduras:
”We are going to face a team that is ready. We have a group trying to come together. The three previous results were three positive results. With this new group, we will try to play a good game and look to win.”
Honduras head coach Jorge Luis Pinto on facing Mexico:
“The pressure is innate. They are the protagonists. They are the favorites. They are the power of CONCACAF.”
