Panama players Felipe Baloy (L) and Luis Tejada. (Photo : Getty Images)
FIFA World no. 86 Honduras is set to face 63rd-ranked Panama at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Friday, Nov. 11 to open fifth round competitions of the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:35 p.m. UTC-6. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Honduras qualified in the Hexagonal after finishing the fourth round of qualifiers at second place in Group A. Mexico topped the group to also advance while Canada and El Salvador were eliminated.
In their last game in the qualifiers, Honduras settled for a 0-0 draw with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sep. 6, as per Goal.
Head coach Jorge Luis Pinto's side will be graced by veteran international players Donis Escober, who is the man between the posts, team captain and defender Maynor Figueroa, defenders Emilio Izaguirre and Brayan Beckeles, midfielders Boniek Garcia and Jorge Claros, and strikers Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis.
Notable players who were not called-up for the match are defender Jonathan Paz and Wilmer Crisanto, midfielders Andy Najar and Carlos Will Mejia, and forwards Anthony Lozano, Jonathan Mejia, Carlo Costly, and Angel Tejeda.
Honduras nipped Canada only by a single point in the Group A standings, which was the result of the draw with the already qualified Mexicans, to advance to the Hex.
Meanwhile, Panama reached the Hex with also a second place finish in Group B. Costa Rica topped the group while Haiti and Jamaica were eliminated.
Panama was routed by Costa Rica, 1-3, in their last match in the fourth round held at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José also on Sep. 6, via Sofa Score.
La Sele scored the first three goals of the contest before Panamanian striker Luis Tejeda netted a consolation goal for head coach Hernán Darío Gómez's squad with a penalty kick right at the 90th minute.
Panama had already qualified to the Hex even before the loss with 10 points in the Group B standings. Haiti and Jamaica both finished with 4 points each.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 2-1 decision for Panama.
Honduras starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Escober; Leveron, Figueroa, Izaguirre, Palacios; Martinez, Garcia, Claros, Mejia; Quioto, Elis
Panama starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Penedo; Cummings, Baloy, Machado, Torres; Godoy, Gomez, Cooper, Quintero; Torres, Tejada
