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Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Draw in the last Group Match

6:54 PM

Switzerland crashed out of the World Cup after a desperately disappointing display against Honduras.
Needing a two-goal win to guarantee a place in the last 16, the Swiss lacked a cutting edge and were unable to break down the stubborn central Americans, who wasted several chances to sneak a victory on the break in a hectic finale.
For Ottmar Hitzfeld's Swiss, the euphoria of their opening victory over pre-tournament favourites Spain seemed a distant memory as wave after wave of attacks fizzled out or ended with a wayward shot.
As it was, Spain's victory over Chile pushed the Swiss into third place in Group H, while Honduras joined Algeria in exiting the 2010 World Cup without scoring a goal.
Honduras were bright and energetic from the kick-off in Bloemfontein but, after taking time to settle, the Swiss emerged as the more likely side to break the deadlock.
Playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta was at the heart of everything that was good about Switzerland, teeing up Gokhan Inler for a shot that drifted wide and testing Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares with a long-ranger.
Despite their need for goals, the Swiss seemed reluctant to commit bodies forward and their attacks often broke down around the box.
Just before half-time, Eren Derdiyok delivered a superb cross to the far post but striker Blaise Nkufo could not adjust his body shape in order to fashion a finish.
The Swiss brought on Hakan Yakin at half-time but his first contribution was a long-range shot which almost hit the corner flag.
Switzerland's increasing need to attack began to leave spaces at the back and Honduras almost took full advantage.
Edgar Alvarez hooked over a cross for David Suazo, who could only plant his header wide, and then Alvarez himself drew a superb one-handed save from Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
At the other end, Valladares was also earning his corn, although his saves to deny Barnetta, Derdiyok and Yakin were more routine than spectacular.
Hitzfeld made his final throw of the dice with the introduction of record goalscorer Alexander Frei, but for all their huff and puff, the breakthrough never came.
And Swiss fans were left to reflect on a campaign which had promised so much, but ended up delivering very little.

Switzerland Switzerland Flag

0-0

Honduras Flag Honduras

FT

(HT 0-0)

Team

Switzerland

  • 01 Benaglio
  • 02 Lichtsteiner
  • 05 Von Bergen
  • 13 Grichting
  • 17 Ziegler
  • 06 Huggel (23 Shaqiri, 78)
  • 07 Barnetta
  • 08 Inler
  • 16 Fernandes (15 Yakin, 46)
  • 10 Nkufo (09 Frei, 69)
  • 19 Derdiyok

Honduras

  • 18 Valladares
  • 02 Chavez
  • 03 Figueroa
  • 05 Bernardez
  • 16 Mauricio Sabillon
  • 06 Thomas
  • 07 Nunez (15 Martinez, 67)
  • 08 Wilson Palacios
  • 17 Alvarez
  • 10 Jerry Palacios (12 Georgie Welcome, 79)
  • 11 Suazo (19 Turcios, 87)

  • 12 Wolfli,
  • 21 Leoni,
  • 03 Magnin,
  • 22 Eggiman,
  • 14 Padalino,
  • 15 Yakin,
  • 20 Schwegler,
  • 23 Shaqiri,
  • 09 Frei,
  • 18 Bunjaku

Substitutes:

  • 01 Ricardo Canales,
  • 22 Donis Escober,
  • 04 Johnny Palacios,
  • 14 Garcia,
  • 21 Izaguirre,
  • 23 Mendoza,
  • 13 Espinoza,
  • 19 Turcios,
  • 20 Guevara,
  • 09 Pavon,
  • 12 Georgie Welcome,
  • 15 Martinez
  • Venue: Free State Stadium
  • Referee: H Baldassi
  • Attendance: 28,042

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

David Villa scored twice and should have completed his hat-trick but Spain earn vital three points

11:19 AM

David Villa struck twice as Spain got their World Cup campaign back on track with a comfortable victory over Honduras, but with more clinical finishing the Euro 2008 champions could have scored a hatful.

Villa opened the scoring in the first half with a stunning finish into the top corner and doubled the lead with a deflected drive from distance, before he missed a chance to complete his hat-trick by firing a penalty wide.

After the much-fancied Spanish had slipped to a shock defeat in their opening game against Switzerland on Wednesday, they needed to produce a performance in front of a large contingent of their expectant fans at Ellis Park.

After Chile's 1-0 win over the Swiss earlier in the day they knew defeat would end their interest in the tournament, but that was never a realistic proposition as they dominated proceedings from the outset.

Playing with an intensity that was badly lacking against Switzerland they swarmed all over Honduras and could have been 3-0 up by the time Villa eventually scored, as Fernando Torres mis-kicked, Sergio Ramos headed over from point-blank range and Villa's 25-yard screamer cannoned off the crossbar.

When Villa did break the deadlock in the 25th minute, he showed why Barcelona have just spent £35m to acquire his services.

Trapped against the left touchline he showed a devastating turn of pace to speed in-between two defenders and slam a shot into the top corner from inside the box.

The Hondurans simply were not good enough to quell the onslaught and Spain flooded forward at will as Xavi missed Jesus Navas's cross by inches and then Torres headed a golden chance into the ground before the Liverpool star ballooned another chance haplessly over from inside the box.

Villa was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after he aimed a slap in the direction of Emilipo Izaguirre, but soon after the break he wrapped it up when Xavi fed him just outside the Honduras area and his right-foot shot flew in via the outstretched leg of defender Osman Chavez.

After Ramos fired inches wide from the edge of the box Villa was presented with a glorious opportunity to score a World Cup hat-trick when Izaguirre brought Navas down in the area, only for the striker to step up and slot his spot-kick past the post.

Honduras could barely get into Spain's half let alone create a chance of their own, though on one occasion David Suazo did send a left-foot shot wide from outside the box - but that was as close as Iker Casillas came to being put under pressure on a comfortable night for the Spanish goalkeeper.

With the game won Vicente del Bosque made changes and the introduction of Cesc Fabregas almost lifted the roof off Ellis Park when, 16 seconds after being introduced, he beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper only to see his shot hacked off the line by Chavez.

Villa saw another hat-trick opportunity go begging when Sergio Mendoza's brilliant last-ditch block prevented him from tapping in, but Spain probably already had one eye on Friday's crunch tie against Chile in Pretoria.

If Switzerland beat Honduras in their final game, it is a match Del Bosque's team probably have to win against the Group H leaders if Spain are to qualify for the knock-out stages.

Spain Spain Flag

2-0

Honduras Flag Honduras

FT

Villa, 17, 51 (HT 1-0)

Team

Spain

  • 01 Casillas Captain
  • 03 Pique
  • 05 Puyol
  • 11 Capdevila
  • 15 Sergio Ramos (17 Arbeloa, 76)
  • 08 Xavi (10 Fabregas, 65)
  • 14 Alonso
  • 16 Busquets
  • 22 G Jesus Navas
  • 07 Villa
  • 09 Torres (13 Mata, 70)

Honduras

  • 18 Valladares
  • 02 Chavez
  • 03 Figueroa
  • 21 Izaguirre Yellow card
  • 23 Mendoza
  • 08 Wilson Palacios
  • 13 Espinoza (12 Georgie Welcome, 45)
  • 19 Turcios Yellow card (07 Nunez, 63)
  • 20 Guevara Captain
  • 11 Suazo (10 Jerry Palacios, 84)
  • 15 Martinez

  • 12 Valdes,
  • 23 Reina,
  • 02 Albiol,
  • 04 Marchena,
  • 17 Arbeloa,
  • 06 Iniesta,
  • 10 Fabregas,
  • 20 Javi Martinez,
  • 21 Silva,
  • 13 Mata,
  • 18 Pedrito,
  • 19 Llorente

Substitutes:

  • 01 Ricardo Canales,
  • 22 Donis Escober,
  • 04 Johnny Palacios,
  • 05 Bernardez,
  • 14 Garcia,
  • 16 Mauricio Sabillon,
  • 06 Thomas,
  • 07 Nunez,
  • 17 Alvarez,
  • 09 Pavon,
  • 10 Jerry Palacios,
  • 12 Georgie Welcome
  • Venue: Ellis Park
  • Referee: Y Nishimura
  • Attendance: 54,386


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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Jean Beausejour bring Chile beat Honduras

11:05 PM

Jean Beausejour's strike earned Chile a first World Cup victory for 48 years as Marcelo Bielsa's side got their 2010 campaign off to a winning start.

Despite having last tasted a win in a World Cup match on this day in 1962, against the former Yugoslavia, Chile came into the match well tipped to emerge from Group H alongside favourites Spain.

And Bielsa's men ended a 13-match winless streak in far more comfortable fashion than the scoreline suggests, with Honduras grateful to goalkeeper Noel Valladares for keeping the score down.

Following, too, a start to the tournament best described as uninspired, Chile's ambitious approach - full of one-touch passing, movement and pace - provided a refreshing change.

It was a performance in keeping with Bielsa's attacking philosophy, and one that saw Chile - playing a unique 3-3-1-3 formation - pick up from where they left off in qualifying, during which they scored 32 goals, just one fewer than Conmebol group winners Brazil.

Reported Real Madrid target Alexis Sanchez, given the freedom of Nelspruit by a Honduras team lacking in cohesion or discipline, was at the heart of all Chile's good play.

Predominantly a right winger but happy to drift inside and beyond his attackers, Sanchez was a bagful of tricks, teasing the Honduran defence at every turn and the focal point of the vast majority of the Chilean attacks.

The 21-year-old earned the free-kick from which Chile forced the first save of the match, Valladares equal to Matias Fernandez's whipped effort from 25 yards, while the Honduras keeper also had to be alert to beat away a swerving long-range effort from Arturo Vidal that underlined just why keepers are said to be so wary of the Jabulani balls in South Africa.

Such was Chile's dominance against a poor Honduras side, that the only surprise was that it took until the 34th minute for them to break the deadlock.

There was an element of fortune about it, Beausejour's finish coming courtesy of a ricochet off a Honduras defender, but some fine build-up play between Sanchez and Mauricio Isla deserved its reward.

Chile thought they might have had a penalty before half-time when Sanchez's goalbound shot hit Osman Chavez's hand, but nothing was given by referee Eddy Maillet - one of a number of debatable decisions from the Seychelles official.

Just before the break, Honduras forced their first half-decent effort on goal, Claudio Bravo comfortably tipping Ramon Nunez's free-kick over the bar.

But it was not enough to rouse a response from Honduras in the second-half, which if anything saw Chile's dominance increase.

Just after the hour mark, Bielsa's men twice created golden chances to extend their lead, Sanchez firing the first wide from inside the box and then Waldo Ponce - with the goal gaping - seeing his header from six yards out saved by a sprawling Valladares.

Any hopes of a late Honduras rally failed to materialise as Chile controlled possession inside their opponents' half, and in the end an entertaining encounter petered out towards the final whistle.

Not that Chile were complaining, and they will hope now that a good result against Switzerland in their next group game on 21 June in Port Elizabeth will be enough to see them through to the last 16.

Honduras Honduras Flag

0-1

Chile Flag Chile

FT

(HT 0-1) Beausejour, 34

Team

Honduras

  • 18 Valladares
  • 02 Chavez
  • 03 Figueroa
  • 21 Izaguirre
  • 23 Mendoza
  • 07 Nunez (Martinez, 78)
  • 08 Wilson Palacios
  • 13 Espinoza
  • 17 Alvarez
  • 20 Guevara (Thomas, 65)
  • 09 Pavon (Georgie Welcome, 60)

Chile

  • 01 Bravo
  • 03 Ponce
  • 04 Isla
  • 17 Medel
  • 06 Carmona
  • 08 Vidal (Contreras, 81)
  • 10 Valdivia (Gonzalez, 87)
  • 14 Fernandez
  • 20 Rodrigo Millar (Jara, 52)
  • 07 Sanchez
  • 15 Beausejour

Substitutes:

  • 01 Ricardo Canales,
  • 22 Donis Escober,
  • 04 Johnny Palacios,
  • 05 Bernardez,
  • 14 Garcia,
  • 16 Mauricio Sabillon,
  • 06 Thomas,
  • 19 Turcios,
  • 11 Suazo,
  • 12 Georgie Welcome,
  • 15 Martinez

Substitutes:

  • 12 Pinto,
  • 23 Marin,
  • 02 Fuentes,
  • 05 Contreras,
  • 18 Jara,
  • 11 Gonzalez,
  • 13 Estrada,
  • 19 Fierro,
  • 21 Tello,
  • 09 Suazo,
  • 16 Orellana,
  • 22 Paredes
  • Venue: Mbombela Stadium
  • Referee: E Maillet
  • Attendance: 32,664


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