| EFE |
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| Christopher Birchall |
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06/JUL/2005 -Though Honduras controlled much of the action in the first half,
the team's attack, led by midfielders Ivan Guerrero and Danilo Turcios, was
repeatedly stymied by a stout Soca Warrior defense anchored by veteran Marvin
Andrews.
Just when Honduras seemed to be imposing its will, a defensive lapse in the
27th minute allowed Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Chris Birchall to send a
long kick past goalkeeper Victor Coello to give his team a 1-0 lead.
In the 43rd minute Honduran defender Maynor Figueroa finally managed to break
through the Trinidad defense, which at times stacked eight men around the box.
Honduras continued to display strong ball control in the second half, and the
substitution of Milton Nuñez for Francisco Ramirez in the 46th minute
gave the side the spark it seemed to be lacking.
However, shots on goal by the usually precise Honduran striker Wilmer Velazquez
continued to soar either wide or high of the net.
The Soca Warriors only solid scoring opportunity of the second half came in
the 81st minute on a strong kick by Collin Samuel that resulted in an injury
to the Honduran keeper, Coello, who later left the match.
In the tournament's opening game Panama surprised Group A favorite Colombia
1-0 on Luiz Tejada's goal in the 70th minute. Panama takes on Trinidad and Tobago
in Saturday's early Group A match, while Colombia will face Honduras.
Lineups:
- 1 - Honduras: Victor Coello (Junior Morales, 84th min.); Junior Izaguirre,
Erick Vallecillo, Astor Henriquez, Maynor Figueroa, Oscar Garcia, Ivan Guerrero,
Danilo Turcios (Wilson Palacios, 64th min.), Mario Berrios, Wilmer Velazquez
and Francisco Ramirez (Milton Nuñez 46th min).
- 1 - Trinidad and Tobago: Kelvin Jack; Marvin Andrews, Every John, Dennis
Lawrence, Cyd Gray, Chris Birchall, Brent Rahim, Densill Theobald (Collin Samuel,
64th min.), Aurtis Whitley, Sterno John and Jason Scotland (Kenwyne Jones, 71st
min.).
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