Honduras whip woeful TT in Nations League

HONDURAS whipped a woeful TT outfit 4-0 last night, at the Olimpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in their Concacaf Nations League, League A Group C encounter.

The Hondurans have qualified for both the Concacaf Nations League semi-finals and the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

TT, on the other hand, were relegated to League B and will enter the Gold Cup qualifying second round.

Honduras finished top of the three-team League A Group C with 10 points from four matches, followed by Martinique (three points) – who also qualified for the next Gold Cup, and TT (two points).

For TT coach Dennis Lawrence, this result mirrored Thursday’s 3-0 win away to Ecuador, in a friendly international. The TT team, who recorded their largest ever victory last Sunday – 15-0 over Anguilla – hardly offered a threat on the offensive end, and their defence were routinely picked apart by their hosts.

It was virtually a new-look TT team, with a number of players absent due to suspension, choice, injuries or inability to enter Honduras due to an issue with their vaccination cards.

Aikim Andrews, who plays as a midfielder with Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, was inserted as the right back by Lawrence, and the make-shift defender was culpable for Honduras’ opener, after five minutes.

Andrews chested a long-ball from a Honduras player and failed to spot a lurking Jonathan Rubio who took the loose ball and drilled a low right-footed shot, from the edge of the penalty box, to the right of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.

Another full-back, Aubrey David, was left for dead by overlapping defender Felix Crisanto who made a run down the flank and squared the ball for Brayan Moya who slotted a left-footed effort to the bottom right-hand corner in the 20th minute.

Honduras virtually assured themselves of victory when Alberth Elis converted a penalty, in first half stoppage time, after Moya’s shirt was pulled, inside the box, by a hapless Andrews.

And Elis put the icing on the cake in the 54th minute. TT’s captain Sheldon Bateau’s poor pass was intercepted by the midfield and the ball was relayed to Elis who was free as a bird as he strolled into the penalty box and finished with a powerful right-footed shot.

Marcus Joseph came close to getting an elusive goal for TT, with a left-footed shot which forced a good save from Luis Lopez, after 61 minutes.