The Honduras national team defeated Haiti 3-0 on Monday and, with 8 points out of a possible 12, regained the lead in Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Haiti’s team was left with 5 points, while Costa Rica and Nicaragua define their fate on the fourth matchday.
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The Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda’s charges showed a different side from the one that drew 0-0 with Costa Rica last Thursday and dealt a hard blow to Haiti, which took the lead in the third matchday after a 3-0 thrashing of Nicaragua.
The home team went into the break with a three-goal lead.
Honduras moved forward from the start of the match, played fast and exerted more personal marking to avoid surprises against Haiti, which created several dangerous plays in the first half.
Midfielders Rigoberto Rivas, Luis Palma and Romell Quioto, and defender Andy Najar, frequently outplayed the Haitian defenders.
They were also on the lookout for Anthony Lozano, attacking down the middle, against a Haitian team with bigger and faster players.
Rivas, Lozano and Quioto seal the win
Honduras’ first goal was a lob by Rigoberto Rivas, after entering the box on the run in the 18th minute.
Anthony Lozano, captain of the Honduran team, added another in the 26th minute after eluding two defenders.
And Romell Quioto put the finishing touch after taking advantage of a rebound from goalkeeper Johnny Placide.
Haiti tried their luck with high crosses into the box and mid-range shots, with Duckens Nazon featuring in their attack.
Josué Casimir, Martin Experience and Frantzdy Pierrot also had unsuccessful efforts in the first half, during which Honduras goalkeeper Édrick Menjívar had little to do.
Catrachos secure victory
In the second episode Haiti came out with a different attitude in an attempt to rescue the game.
While Honduras continued with the same dynamic of the first and tried to slow down the gas when it was convenient for them to make time.
In the 53rd minute, Haiti’s goalkeeper, Johnny Placide, blocked a close-range shot by Luis Palma.
Twenty minutes later, Honduras made their first three changes to put fresh legs in their midfield and look for a better result.
Meanwhile, Haiti wasted the few chances it did manage to overcome the Central American country’s defense.
The Haitian goalkeeper prevented the Hondurans from scoring at least two more goals in the final minutes of the match.
Honduras takes the lead in Group C
The victory left Honduras as the new leader of Group C with eight points, and Haiti with five, pending the game between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Honduras’ away games in November will be against Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
The country that finishes in first place will qualify for the 2026 World Cup to be played in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The runner-up will go to a playoff.
Technical data
3. Honduras: Édrick Menjívar; Andy Najar, Getsel Montes (Luis Fernando Vega m.75), Marcelo Santo, Joseph Rosales; Kevin Arriaga, Rigoberto Rivas (José Mario Pinto m.76), Deiby Flores, Luis Palma (Carlos Pineda m.76); Romell Quioto and Anthony Lozano (Jorge Benguché m.88).
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.
0. Haiti: Johnny Placide; Ricardo Ade, Josué Casimir, Jean Kevin Duverne, Garven Metusala (Hannes Delcroix m.46); Derrick Etienne (Leverton Pierre m.46), Martin Experience, Frantzdy Pierrot (Woobens Pacius m.87); Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Louicius Don Deedson m.85) and Duckens Nazon (Ruben Providence m.63).
Coach: Sebastián Migne.
Goals: 1-0, minute 18: Rigoberto Rivas. 2-0. m.26: Anthony Lozano. 3-0, 39th minute: Romell Quioto.
Referee: Oshane Anthony Nation, of Jamaica. Showed yellow cards to Luis Palma, Romell Quioto and Kervin Arriaga, of Honduras.
Incidents: Match of the fourth matchday of Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the Estadio Nacional José de la Paz Herrera in front of more than 20,000 spectators.
With information from EFE
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