Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza and the Honduras Men’s National Team rebounded from their defeat to the U.S. Men’s National Team to earn a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica on Tuesday in World Cup Qualifying. Los Catrachos now sit in fifth place in the Hex, level with the U.S. MNT on points but behind the Americans on goal differential.
Espinoza earned his 52nd cap on Tuesday at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, playing 90 minutes for the second time in four days. The Sporting KC midfielder will now join the team in Toronto and be available for selection for Friday night’s nationally televised match against Toronto FC (6:30pm on FS1).
Head coach Jorge Luis Pinto made two changes to his lineup that fell 6-0 to the U.S. MNT on Friday. Houston Dynamo striker Romell Quioto and former Sporting KC defender Ever Alvarado made way for Mario Martinez and Anthony Lozano.
Pinto’s moves paid immediate dividends as Lozano put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute. Honduras controlled possession throughout the match and outshot their opponent 11-7 with six of those attempts coming on target. Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas did well to keep the Ticos in the game, however, and Costa Rica was able to find their equalizer in the second half through Kendall Waston. The Vancouver Whitecaps center back rose above his mark on a set piece and headed the ball into the top corner pulling Costa Rica level.
Honduras has a stiff test on the World Cup qualifying horizon with road matches against Mexico and Panama in June. The Central American nation is looking to qualify for its third consecutive World Cup.
