WILLIEMSTAD, Curacao – A first half goal from Jose Pinto held up for Honduras in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Curacao in Group C of League A of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League on Friday night at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad, Curacao.

Curacao came out of the gates in strong fashion and had two good looks at goal in the opening 20 minutes. In the 8’, Elson Hooi looked set to score off a cutback pass, but instead guided his shot wide. Ten minutes later in the 18’, Honduras GK Luis Lopez had to be alert to prevent a Brandley Kuwas free kick from finding the back of the net.

The lone goal would belong to Honduras, though, as they grabbed the advantage through Jose Mario Pinto in the 23’ when he was first to a loose ball in the area and fired in a right-footed shot to hand his side a 1-0 lead.

It was up to Curacao to try to respond, and as play drifted into the second half, the home side had the visiting Catrachos pegged back in their own half.

Curacao grew closer to a goal as the half wore on, notably on a Kuwas shot saved by Lopez in the 65’, followed by a Cuco Martina header that flashed wide in the 72’.

But the best chance for a goal for Curacao came in the 90’, when Anthony Van Den Hurk had the time and space to try to turn in a header off a cross from the left, but was unable to find the target.

In the end, Honduras’ defensive resolve proved to be too strong, allowing the Central American visitors to walk away with the three points.