Honduras & USA qualify to 2008 Olympic Games
(CONCACAF.com, 03.21.08)
NASHVILLE — Honduras and USA qualified to the Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 after defeating Guatemala and Canada, respectively, in the semifinals of the 2008 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualification at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday.
After a scoreless 120 minutes of play, Honduras needed to go to penalties to defeat Guatemala, 6:5, in the first semifinal.
In the penalty shootout, Oscar Morales, Erick Norales, Rigoberto Padilla, Irvin Reyna, Marvin Sanchez, Hendry Thomas scored for Honduras, while Jose Cesar Guity missed the target. The Chapines got penalty kick goals from Marvin Avila, Jonny Brown, Jose Manuel Contreras, Wilson Lalín and Jean Marquez, while Manuel Leon’s kick was saved by the Catrachos’ goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez and Rafael Morales’ shot wide from the goal.
In the other semifinal at LP Field, Freddy Adu scored twice, while Sacha Kljestan added another for the USA as they posted a 3:0 triumph over Canada.
The USA qualify to a CONCACAF record 13th Men’s Football Tournament at the Olympic Games, while Honduras will be making their second appearance at the Summer Games.
The CONCACAF Tournament concludes on Sunday (23 March) at LP Field with Guatemala taking on Canada in the third place match, while Honduras meet USA in the final for the Confederation’s Under-23 title.
SCORING SUMMARY
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
GUA — Contreras (converted) | HON — Morales (converted)
GUA — Leon (missed) | HON — Thomas (converted)
GUA — Ávila (converted) | HON — Reyna (converted)
GUA — Brown (converted) | HON — Güity (missed)
GUA — Márquez (converted) | HON — Sánchez (converted)
GUA — Lalín (converted) | HON — Padilla (converted)
GUA — Morales (missed) | HON — Norales (converted)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HON — Yellow Card — Hendry Thomas (22′)
HON — Yellow Card — Ramon Nuñez (45′)
GUA — Yellow Card — Cristian Noriega (95′)
GUA — Yellow/Red Card — Cristian Noriega (102′)
GUATEMALA LINEUP
Manager: Rodrigo Kenton
Ricardo Jérez
Carlos Castrillo
Wilson Lalín
Cristian Noriega (102′)
Jean Márquez
José Manuel Contreras
Marvin Ávila
Manuel Léon
Marco Pappa (Jairo Arreola 46′, Jonny Brown 120′)
Rafael Morales
Carlos Villa (Maynor Ignacio Lopez 65′)
HONDURAS LINEUP
Manager: Alexis Mendoza
Kevin Hernández
Quiarol Arzú
David Molina
Erick Norales
Luis López (Irvin Reyna 117′)
Rigoberto Padilla
Jefferson Bernárdez (José Güity 78′)
Ramón Núñez (Georgie Wilson Welcome 69′)
Marvin Sánchez
Hendry Thomas
Oscar Morales