Honduras vs. Mexico: Winners and Losers from 2018 World Cup Qualifier
Mexico made it two wins out of two in World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 victory over Honduras on Tuesday.
Second-half substitutes Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona and Jurgen Damm sealed the win, their goals the first notable moments of quality in a match sorely missing it up until then. Raul Jimenez skying over from six yards earlier on typifying the lack of composure from both sides in the final third.
A bad performance for Honduras in which they lost long-held records against Mexico will be put into perspective by the horrific injury suffered by Luis Garrido. The midfielder was unable to get out of the way as Javier Aquino fell into his leg.
Read on for the winners and losers from this CONCACAF Group A meeting.
Winner: Mexico's World Cup Qualifying Campaign off to a Strong Start
1 of 5
An unfussy to start to World Cup qualifying proceedings has been ideal for Mexico as they conclude a tumultuous 2015.
Multiple tournaments to negotiate, controversy surrounding former boss Miguel Herrera and the natural, constant evolution of a national team squad have all combined to provide more than a few headaches, though they were largely made up for by winning the Golf Cup and CONCACAF Cup playoff for entry to the 2017 Confederations Cup.
A slow start for new boss Juan Carlos Osorio will only have created more stress. Happily for the Colombian, his side was able to follow up last week's 3-0 win over El Salvador with another relatively comfortable win.
Six points from two games on the board, Osorio has room to breathe looking toward the back-to-back meetings with Canada next March.
Loser: Honduras Struggling in Poor Start to Group A
2 of 5
Up until Garrido's injury there had been some life about Honduras.
Erick Andino gamely and cleverly worked the channels, attempting to link up with Rubilio Castillo where he could. Boniek Garcia was a handful in midfield and left-back Emilio Izaguirre a threat as outlet.
Perhaps the likely leg break suffered by Garrido had an adverse affect on Honduras' performance thereafter. It was an awful moment naturally followed by plenty of concern as the situation their stricken team-mate found himself in became apparent.
Whatever the reasons behind their tapering off, the lack of fight from the home side will be a concern to Jorge Luis Pinto.
Their 1-0 defeat by Canada and this loss far from kills off their qualification hopes. But their inability to muster any urgency and—up until a late Carlos Discua shot—real creativity, does not bode well for improvement.
Winner: Mexico's Young Players Star
3 of 5
As tame as Honduras were, Mexico were not any better for an hour.
Defensively you can just about credit their containing game. But going forward they were listless and predictable. A succession of crosses to Javier Hernandez never lead to much given his distance from black shirts and the marking job done on him by the men in white.
The visitors needed a boost and it arrived via the creativity of their substitutes.
'Tecatito' Corona's opener is as fine a piece of individual brilliance as you will have seen all year. As a rebounded Mexico free-kick came his way, the 22-year-old teed himself up with a sublime flick before striking perfectly into the bottom corner.
Damm's was not so eye-catching, but was delightful in a different way.
Winning the ball out right, he raced into the box and teased Noel Valladares off his line by motioning to cross. Instead, the 23-year-old fired cheekily behind the goalkeeper.
Pre-match there was much talk about the big attacking names of the Mexico side. ESPN FC's Tom Marshall talked up the merits of Oribe Peralta over Giovani dos Santos. Although currently struggling for Real Sociedad, Carlos Vela remains a player plenty rate highly.
Corona and Damm will not have stopped discussion of their older, more high-profile team-mates. But they have reiterated why there is hope for new blood coming to the fore of El Tri.
As football journalist Nayib Moran wrote following their goals, "the future is bright."
Loser: Honduras Lose Home Advantage over Their Rivals
4 of 5
Honduras' future does not feel so bright right now, and their past has been dimmed ever so slightly too.
Mexico had not won in their neighbours' land since May 1993, and in San Pedro Sula in over 50 years (h/t ESPN FC's Cesar Hernandez). Even in the midst of some worrying form, there was belief that Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano would serve Honduras well again.
The local fans did their job in creating a suitably raucous, and at-times, intimidating atmosphere. With the right effort from their team in getting at an unsettled Mexico, surely home advantage would soon make the difference.
However, with the defeat there was of clear, understandable disappointment to the Honduras supporters, many of whom left early as they witnessed their team succumb with barely a whimper. A much-cherished record tamely broken.
Winner: Juan Carlos Osorio
5 of 5
Before the match there was much uncertainty about who Osorio would select, and then some confusion when the starting XI was revealed. A perusal of social media will have found suggestions of 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and 3-3-3-1 as the possible formation to accommodate the side's four central defenders and array of attackers.
During the game the boss' vision became clearer with something more akin to a 5-3-2 taking shape.
It is unlikely to be the last experimentation Osorio is likely to make. He will feel he has plenty more to learn about his players and what system will suit them best in the long-run.
These changes will come under more scrutiny. But in making the substitutions that changed the match, Osorio has earned himself a little leeway to be able to get one or two things wrong in an otherwise solid game plan. So long as he continues to show he understands when alterations are required.
"Osorio came out as the hero, the manager who finally was able to end Mexico's abysmal run in the Estadio Olimpico—one of CONCACAF's most fearsome and intimidating venues," wrote ESPN FC's Tom Marshall.
It is as good an entry to his resume as the new manager could have hoped for at this fledgling stage of his tenure.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
