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Honduras continues dream run, ties Japan to book spot in Olympic quarters

Honduras Olympics (Getty Images)

Honduras' dream start to the Olympics got a little sweeter on Wednesday, as the CONCACAF team advanced out of the group stage and into the quarterfinals with a scoreless draw against Japan.

The tie with first-place Japan at City of Coventry Stadium saw Los Catrachos close out Group D undefeated at 1-0-2 and gave them advancement to the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time in history. Two of the three MLS-based players on the Honduras team partook in the match on Wednesday, as Andy Najar and Jerry Bengtson both started while Roger Espinoza served his suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Mario Martinez, who is reportedly close to completing a transfer to the Seattle Sounders, played 90 minutes for Honduras.

As enjoyable as the result is, Honduras will need to quickly set their sights on their next opponent: Brazil. Honduras' game against the Selecao on Sunday at St. James' Park should prove difficult, given that Los Catrachos will see the likes of Neymar, Hulk and Thiago Silva. But that will not stop the Central American nation from thinking about a place in the semifinals, not when they have enjoyed such an impressive showing at the beginning of this tournament.

What do you think are Honduras' chances against Brazil? Impressed with them making it out of the group? Which MLS-based player has impressed you the most?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I weep at the thought of how this could have been the USA Olympic team advancing to the quarterfinals…USA vs. Brazil in the Olympics would have been epic. But I’ll still support the Concacaf team. Go Honduras!

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  2. Arlo did such a great job of learning everything he could and preparing for games in Seattle. That has not stopped now that he is national. I haven’t seen the Olympics, but NBC is rocking MLS coverage.

    Go Mario !

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  3. Off topic, but I gotta say, Arlo White is a fantastic commentator. We’re lucky to have him “in our league,” if you will.

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  4. Thats true, but I can easily root for Honduras, especially in lieu of the US being there, but I just cannot bring myself to hope for anything but Mexico losing.

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  5. If Brasil underestimate the Catrachos, they could lose like they did in the Copa America when Honduras was invited some years ago.

    Reply

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