Game Recaps: Mexico 2:1 Honduras

The early Red Card.   Never a good thing in any game and it changes the complexion of said game in a significant way.

And that was the story of Mexico v Honduras.  A second minute red card to Allans Vargas Murillo for Honduras changed the match and meant that Mexico would play up a man for 88 minutes.  The resulting free kick was put in by Raul Lopez Gomez and Mexico took the 1-0 lead.  And from there they piled the pressure on Honduras sending wave after wave forward holding (at one point) 70% of the possession.  The first half ended with Mexico up 1-0, but it was clear that Honduras was going to do any and everything to slow down the game, including playing a dirty brand of soccer.

The second half saw Mexico going for a second goal and peppered the Honduras goal, but it was the Hondurans who scored in the 59th minute to level the match.  However, Erick Torres brought Mexico back in front 6 minutes later and the match finished 2-1

As for the semi-final rounds, here is the schedule on Saturday, October 10:

United States vs Honduras--1:00 PM MDT--Rio Tinto Stadium--Sandy, Utah

Mexico vs Canada--4:00 PM MDT--Rio Tinto Stadium--Sandy, Utah.

The winners of the Saturday matches will both qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics while the two losing squads will play for third place and a place in the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL playoff for a spot in the Olympics.  Both the championship game and the third place game will take place on October 13 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.