Vancouver Whitecaps FC duo David Edgar and Marcel de Jong both played the full 90 minutes as the Canadian senior men’s national team fell 2-1 to Honduras in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday afternoon in San Pedro Sula.
Canada got off to a dream start with centre back Manjrekar James heading in a Scott Arfield corner in the 35th minute.
WATCH: @ManjrekarJames scores from a @scottyarf corner to put #CANMNT ahead 1:0 v Honduras in San Pedro Sula pic.twitter.com/sGpbNR7t0Y
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 3, 2016
Then, Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan made a few massive saves to keep the score level. Just before the break, though, Honduras got their equalizer.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Mario Martinez fired in a seeing-eye strike from distance to bring the score level before Romell Quioto scored the eventual winner in the 51st minute, tapping in an Alberth Ellis cross at the back post.
Edgar, who played in central midfield, earned his 38th cap with the Canadian senior men’s national team, while de Jong made his 46th appearance.
Canada now sits third in Group A heading into Tuesday’s group stage finale vs. El Salvador at BC Place. In order to advance to the Hex, the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the CONCACAF region, Canada will need to win the game and make up a five-goal differential vs. Honduras, who visit group-leader Mexico at the same time on Tuesday.
GROUP A STANDINGS
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<p align="center">Mexico</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">+12</p> |
<p align="center">15</p> |
<p align="center">Honduras</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">7</p> |
<p align="center">Canada</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">-5</p> |
<p align="center">4</p> |
<p align="center">El Salvador</p> |
<p align="center">5</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p align="center">-7</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
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