The Honduras Men's National Team opened the Hexagonal with a 1-0 home defeat to Panama on Friday in San Pedro Sula.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza was an unused substitute at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano as Honduras' winless streak against Panama hit nine competitive matches dating back to 2007.
Center back Fidel Escobar notched the decisive goal in the 22nd minute, blasting a 22-yard free kick that deflected into the back of the net past Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escober. The result puts Honduras in an early hole in CONCACAF's final round of World Cup qualifying, while Panama makes a positive start in its bid for a maiden World Cup appearance.
Espinoza will look to earn his 50th career cap for Honduras on when Los Catrachos host Trinidad and Tobago at 4 p.m. CT Tuesday in San Pedro Sula. The Hexagonal features six CONCACAF nations squaring off in a home-and-away, double-round-robin format between November 2016 and October 2017, with the top three teams receiving automatic berths to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The fourth-place finisher will face an Asian side in a two-legged playoff next November.
Espinoza has helped lead Honduras to the World Cup in each of the last two qualifying cycles, playing two games at the 2010 tournament in South Africa and starting three at the 2014 edition in Brazil.
Honduras MNT Hexagonal Schedule & Results
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>RESULT</strong> |
<strong>Nov. 11, 2016</strong> |
<strong>vs. Panama</strong> |
L 0-1 |
<strong>Nov. 15, 2016</strong> |
<strong>vs. Trinidad and Tobago</strong> |
|
March 24, 2017 |
at United States |
|
<strong>March 28, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Costa Rica</strong> |
|
June 7 or 8, 2017 |
at Mexico |
|
June 11 or 12, 2017 |
at Panama |
|
Sept. 1, 2017 |
at Trinidad and Tobago |
|
<strong>Sept. 5, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. United States</strong> |
|
Oct. 6, 2017 |
at Costa Rica |
|
<strong>Oct. 10, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Mexico</strong> |
