Honduras winger Boniek Garcia. (Photo : Getty Images)
Honduras (1-2-1, 4 points) and Canada (1-2-1, 4 points) are currently tied on points after four matchdays in the fourth round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualifiers. They face each other at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Friday, Sep. 2 in a crucial match to determine who will gain solo second place in Group A.
Canada nipped Honduras, 1-0, during their first meeting in the round held at the BC Place in Vancouver in November of last year and Los Catrachos are looking to get even this time at their home stadium.
Honduras will still be coached by Colombian manager Jorge Luis Pinto, who had been with the squad since 2014.
La Bicolor defeated El Salvador, 2-0, during the last matchday on Mar. 29 also at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano to earn their first win in the competitions, as per Soccerway.
Right winger Boniek Garcia and forward Romell Quioto netted the two goals for Pinto's side at the 52nd minute and during stoppage time after the first half of the match ended in a scoreless tie.
Meanwhile, Canada also has only one win to boot in the group stage so far, which was the victory they pulled off against the Hondurans during their fourth round opener.
Head coach Benito Floro is still the man in charge for the Canucks as the team aims to qualify in the fifth and final round of qualifiers.
Canada was blanked by powerhouse squad Mexico, 0-2, in the previous matchday on Mar. 29 in a game held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, via Goal.
Coach Floro's boys were not able to score a single goal in the entire match as El Tri's defense was in top shape. Midfielder Andres Guardado and forward Jesus Corona scored one goal each for the undefeated Mexicans.
The top two teams in Group A at the end of the fourth round will advance in the fifth round of qualifiers, called the Hex, which will start in November. The top three teams at the conclusion of the Hex will then qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia while the fourth-placed team will compete in an inter-confederation playoff to dispute the final two slots for the World Cup.
The predicted result is a close 1-0 decision for Honduras.
Honduras starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Escober; Beckeles, Figueroa, Izaguirre, Palacios; Garcia, Claros, Martinez, Espinoza; Lozano, Elis
Canada starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Borjan; de Jong, Ledgerwood, Hainault, Straith; Piette, Hutchinson, Ricketts, Jackson; Haber, Larin
