| AP |
 |
| Honduras |
 |
|
|
Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3-2 Saturday, going ahead early in the game and a fending off a fierce comeback that secured a spot for the team in the Gold Cup semifinals.
With a streamlined and assertive style, Honduras took advantage of Costa Rica's lapses and jumped to a 3-0 lead within the first 30 minutes of play.
Costa Rica committed a couple of critical defensive errors that allowed forwards Milton Nuñez and Wilmer Velazquez to put Honduras ahead.
Velazquez was the first to strike, recovering a lost ball from defender Michael Umaña and putting one past goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen in the 6th minute.
Honduras added to its lead in the 27th minute, when Danilo Turcios intercepted a pass from defender Victor Cordero to Masen and slipped it in the goal.
Barely two minutes after that, Nuñez came upon the ball after a series of fortunate bounces and blasted one in the goal to give Honduras a 3-0 advantage.
Costa Rica reacted quickly, bringing Cristian Bolaños from the bench in a move that would yield quick dividends since he netted Costa Rica's first goal in the 39th minute.
In an effort to build momentum, Costa Rica pressed forward in the second half, but Honduras closed ranks, betting on a strategy of getting the ball to Nuñez and Turcios for quick counterattacks.
Costa Rica dominated the second half, showing good follow through and setting up scoring chances courtesy of Bolaños, Harold Wallace, Oscar Rojas and Roy Miller.
But the renewed Costa Rican offense could not breach Honduras' defense, led by the solid play of Samuel Caballero, until Bryan Ruiz got in the box and scored in the 81st minute.
Costa Rica shifted to full offense during the closing minutes in hopes of netting the equalizer and forcing overtime, but Honduras held on for the win on the back of its resolute defense.
Lineups:
3. Honduras: Victor Cohelo, Samuel Caballero, Junior Izaguirre, Maynor Figueroa, Oscar Garcia (Wilson Palacios, 82nd minute), Mario Berrios; Asthou Enriquez, Danilo Turcios (Luis Guifarro, 69th minute), Mario Ivan Guerrero, Wilmer Velazquez and Milton Nuñez.
2. Costa Rica: Alvaro Mesen, Victor Cordero, Michael Umaña, Harold Wallace, Roy Miller; Douglas Sequeira, Dany Fonseca (Jose Luis Lopez, 73rd minute), Steven Bryce (Bryan Ruiz, 62nd minute), Jafet Soto, Oscar Rojas and Randall Brenes (Cristian Bolaños, 37th minute).
Goals: 1-0, 6th minute: Wilmer Velazquez. 2-0, 27th minute: Danilo Turcios. 3-0, 29th minute: Milton Nuñez. 3-1, 39th minute: Cristian Bolaños. 3-2, 81st minute: Bryan Ruiz.
Referee: Benito Armando issued yellow cards to Cristian Bolaños (36th minute), Oscar Rojas (42nd minute) and Victor Cordero (78th minute) of Costa Rica and to Asthou Enriquez (66th minute) of Honduras.
|
