Honduras seal semi-final spot
Reuters - Sunday 19 June 2011, 02:56
EAST RUTHERFORD - Honduras
beat Costa Rica 4-2 on penalties on Saturday to reach the
semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The match, played as the first leg of a double-header at the
New Meadowlands Stadium, finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and 30
minutes of extra-time.
Honduras converted all four penalties they attempted but two
Costa Rica players, Celso Borges and Alvaro Saborio, blasted
their spot-kicks against the crossbar.
Former Bristol City striker Saborio also failed to convert a penalty in the second half
of regular time when Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares, named
man of the match, guessed correctly and dived to his right.
After a scoreless first half, Honduras opened the scoring in
the 50th minute when striker Jerry Bengtson tapped in his third
goal of the tournament.
Javier Portillo broke free in the Costa Rica box and fired a
low shot that goalkeeper Keylor Navas deflected to the unmarked
Bengston.
Costa Rica equalised five minutes later when Dennis Marshall
headed in a corner from Cristian Bolanos then won a disputed
penalty when Marco Urena fell in the box after defender Victor
Bernandez tugged his shirt.
Valladares was given a yellow card after protesting that
Saborio had not placed the ball on the spot but regained his
composure in time to pull off the save.
"It was worth the yellow card," he later told reporters.
Both sides had chances to win the game in extra time but
were unable to find the mark, resulting in the penalty shootout,
which was sealed by Bengtson.
"I believe the luck factor counted," said Costa Rica coach
Ricardo La Volpe.
"I think we finished (the game) much better than them. They
ended up making time, lying on the floor, with a very impartial
referee."
Honduras have now reached the semi-finals in three of the
last four editions of the tournament for North and Central
America and Caribbean teams, while Costa Rica bow out on
penalties for the second time in succession.
Honduras will play Mexico in the semi-finals in Houston
after the defending champions beat Guatemala 2-1.
The remaining two quarter-finals will take place in
Washington DC Sunday with the United States playing Jamaica and
Panama facing El Salvador.
The eventual winner of the tournament will represent
CONCACAF at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.