SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras.- One goal was enough for Honduras to top Martinique and book its place in next summer’s Concacaf Nations League final with a Romario Barthelery own goal giving Los Catrachos the win Sunday night at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Just four minutes into the match, Alberth Elis wriggled free down the line and put the ball into the box. Brayan Moya took an aggressive touch, ran down the ball and fired toward the goal. Berthelery went for the clearance but instead pushed the ball over the line for an early goal.
From then on, however, Martinique was able to frustrate the home side, with the best chance at doubling the lead perhaps coming in the 57th minute when Moya deflected a center back’s attempt to play the ball forward and broke away one-on-one with the goalkeeper. His attempt to get the final touch on the ball, however, was impeded and the ball went out of play without a shot.
Four minutes later Jonathan Rubio set up Moya after a nice bit of combination play down the right wing, but while Moya found the target this time, Martinique goalkeeper Arnaud des Etages was equal to the task.
While Honduras will top the group, the Central Americans still have matches remaining both in Martinique and at home against Trinidad and Tobago, with the automatic Gold Cup place in play for both their rivals.
