Honduras suffered a 2-2draw with El Salvador and the result continued to keep the team behind Canada in the World Cup qualification campaign.
The national team was very much in need of a good result from this game especially since it was at home. However, manager Jorge Pinto was sent off to the stands by referee Ricardo Montero Costa Rica and he was unable to make much impact on the match. Mexico are the overwhelming favourites to win the group and qualify for the World Cup 2018. However, the second spot is certainly up for grabs and a win would have put Honduras back in the midst.
Now, though, they will have to produce an incredible comeback in order to have any chance of qualification to the World Cup 2018. Pinto recently claimed that his ultimate ambition was to get Honduras to the World Cup. After having qualified for the last two editions of the tournament, reaching Russia would have been seen as the ultimate progress from the national team. Prior to reaching the World Cup 2010 and 2014, the national team had only qualified for the 1982 World Cup. Elis gave El Salvador an early advantage in the 19th minute but Honduras brought the game back to level terms just before half-time through Punyed.
Lozano helped El Salvador get ahead in front once again, but they were pegged back by a late equaliser from Bonilla. The national team’s next match is also against El Salvador and will take place on Tuesday night. This will be followed by the remaining qualification matches against Canada and Mexico. The next three games will hold key towards Honduras appearing in a third successive World Cup tournament. The top two teams from the group get progressed into the next round of World Cup qualification.