Roger Espinoza and the Honduras Men’s National Team continue their Hexagonal campaign on Tuesday, knowing anything less than a home win against Trinidad and Tobago could be fatal in the nation’s bid for a third straight World Cup appearance.
Honduras fell 1-0 to Panama in Friday’s Hexagonal opener at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, a game in which Espinoza was an unused substitute. The result puts pressure on Los Catrachos to secure three points Tuesday — especially with five of their final eight Hexagonal matches on the road, including two-game sets with the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Head coach Jorge Luis Pinto’s men remain in San Pedro Sula for Tuesday’s match, set to kick off at 4:05 p.m. CT. Given the disappointing outcome against Panama, Pinto may be inclined to give Espinoza his long-awaited 50th career cap. The Sporting Kansas City midfielder last featured for Honduras in March, helping Los Catrachos take four points from two meetings with El Salvador and ultimately emerge from the semifinal qualifying round.
Trinidad and Tobago is off to a rocky start in the Hexagonal, as well. The Soca Warriors took a 2-0 home loss to Costa Rica on Friday, denting their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 2006.
The teams last met in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup as Trinidad and Tobago snapped a four-game winless run in the series with a surprise 2-0 win.
The Hexagonal features six CONCACAF teams squaring off in a home-and-away, double-round-robin format between November 2016 and October 2017. The top three finishers will punch their ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, while the fourth-place finisher will meet an Asian side in a World Cup playoff one year from now. Tuesday will be the final game of 2016 for both nations.
CONCACAF Hexagonal Standings
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
1. Costa Rica |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
+2 |
2 |
0 |
2. Mexico |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
2 |
1 |
3. Panama |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
1 |
0 |
4. United States |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
1 |
2 |
<strong>5. Honduras</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>-1</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>6. Trinidad & Tobago</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>-2</strong> |
<strong>0</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
ROSTERS
HONDURAS
GOALKEEPERS (2): Donis Escober (Olimpia/HON), Luis Lopez (Real Espana/HON)
DEFENDERS (9): Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/SCO), Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/MEX), Johnny Leveron (UAT/MEX), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia/HON), Henry Figueroa (Motagua/HON), Cesar Oseguera (Real Espana/HON), Brayan Garcia (Vida/HON), Felix Crisanto (Motagua/HON)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Claros (Alajuelense/CRC), Mario Martinez (ENPPI/EGY), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City), Alfredo Mejia (Marathon/HON), Carlos Discua (Motagua/HON), Bryan Acosta (Real Espana/HON), Oliver Morazan (Olimpia/HON), Oscar Salas (Olimpia/HON)
FORWARDS (6): Romell Quioto (Olimpia/HON), Alberth Ellis (Monterrey/MEX), Eddie Hernandez (Qingdao Jonoon/CHN), Rubilio Castillo (Motagua/HON), Diego Reyes (Marathon/HON), Roby Norales (Platense/HON)
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jan-Michael Williams (Central/TRI), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United/TRI), Adrian Foncette (Police/TRI)
DEFENDERS (7): Daneil Cyrus (W Connection/TRI), Radanfah Abu Bakr (Sillamae Kalev/EST), Aubrey David (FC Dallas), Carlyle Mitchell (Seoul E-Land/KOR), Sheldon Bateau (Krylia Sovetov Samara/RUS), Yohance Marshall (Murcielagos/MEX), Jelani Peters (W Connection/TRI)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Khaleem Hyland (Westerlo/BEL), Joevin Jones (Seattle Sounders FC), Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge/ENG), Kevan George (Jacksonville Armada), Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes), Marcus Joseph (Central/TRI), Levi Garcia (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Jomal Williams (Murcielagos/MEX), Neveal Hackshaw (Charleston Battery), John Bostock (Lens/FRA)
FORWARDS (3): Kenwyne Jones (Central/TRI - on loan from Atlanta United SC), Willis Plaza (San Juan Jabloteh/TRI), Trevin Caesar (Orange County Blues)
