By IVES GALARCEP
SANDY, Utah– A perfect June is within grasp for the U.S. Men’s National Team as they face Honduras tonight (9pm, ESPN) in the third of three World Cup qualifiers this month.
The U.S. is riding a four-match unbeaten streak in qualifying, including recent wins in Jamaica and vs. Panama that have helped the Americans top the qualifying group. A win tonight at Rio Tinto Stadium could push the Americans four points clear of the entire group (depending on the result of tonight’s Costa Rica-Honduras match).
Honduras enters the match missing several key players, including regular centerbacks Victor Bernardez and Maynor Figueroa, but the Catrachos will still have a solid lineup, with Roger Espinoza and Mario Martinez among the key players who also featured in the February win over the U.S. in San Pedro Sula.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight’s match so please feel free to follow along with the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s commentary is after the jump):
When the game is allowed to be played as a slug fest with consistent fouling by the same players, without any warnings or cards, that takes away the advantage of the more skillful team. We have done that for years. Tonight Honduras tried to do that to us, and it worked for a long time. The difference between now and years past when we were bunkered against, is that we have some guys with some real skill and ability to finish.
I thought we had our moments of good flow and opportunities to put the ball in the net. If we finish a couple of those headers, maybe we aren’t talking about how bad the flow was, instead discussing a 3-0 win. Curious to see the stats for passing percentage, possession, and chances.
Great win!! We are going to Brazil!!