VINLANDER
21st March 2008, 14:27
:D Preolimpico CONCACAF Honduras vs Guatemala 20/03/08
[flash width=425 height=350 loop=false:b79fba43dc]http://www.youtube.com/v/zVqH4GcTCVw[/flash:b79fba43dc]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clinching an Olympic berth and a trip to China is like getting to a World Cup. At least according to Honduran coach Alexis Mendoza, and now his players are celebrating.
Honduras earned a spot in the Olympic soccer tournament Thursday night, beating Guatemala 6-5 on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime in the CONCACAF qualifying semifinals.
"There's an immense happiness that comes up from your soul, because it was well deserved for everything they gave on the field," Mendoza said through a translator.
Honduras won when Guatemala's Rafael Morales tying attempt went over the goal.
"We didn't want to get to penalties but Guatemala did what they had to do with a player down - they forced us to penalties," Mendoza said.
Hondurus will face the United States, a 3-0 winner over Canada in the second semifinal, in the championship game Sunday.
Honduras finished second in Group B and Guatemala advanced by winning Group A.
But Honduras, which missed a chance to win in overtime despite a man advantage, took a 2-1 lead on penalty kicks as goalie Kevin Hernandez got both hands on the kick by Guatemala's Manuel Leon and blocked it. Irvin Reyna scored to put Honduras up 3-1.
Jose Cesar Guity sent a kick over the crossbar for Honduras, and Jean Marquez tied it back at three for Guatemala. The teams swapped kicks with Rigoberto Padilla and Erick Norales scoring for a 6-5 lead for Honduras. That put Morales in position to keep the penalty kicks going, but his kick went too high.
"We couldn't finish during regulation, plus 30 minutes extra," Guatemala coach Rodrigo Kenton said through a translator. "After that it's a Russian roulette. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't."
Still, Kenton said Guatemala's run in the qualifying tournament bodes well for his country's soccer program.
"I feel we will have another turn. We could have won. No one thought we would go this far," Kenton said.
Honduras had chances to score when Norales' free header went over the bar in the 51st minute for Honduras, and Guatemala goalie Ricardo Jerez dove to his right and grabbed the ball off a kick from Marvin Sanchez in front of the goal.
Guatemala nearly scored when Maynor Lopez, a second-half substitute, took a pass from about six yards out from the goal only to kick the ball just wide of the goal in the 81st minute. Marvin Avila missed a bicycle kick but kicked David Molina of Honduras in the head in the 84th minute.
Honduras had a chance to win in regulation off a free kick by Marvin Nunez in the final minute of regulation. But Luis Lopez's header went well over the crossbar of the goal.
Guatemala wound up a man short in the first period of overtime when Avila picked up his second yellow card in the 102nd minute for colliding with Guity. Avila took his time walking off the field, and a few bottles were thrown onto the field before he cleared.
Luis Lopez again tried to head in the ball off Sanchez's free kick except Jerez grabbed it for the save.
Then Guatemala's goalie started struggling in the second overtime, twice needing treatment for cramps with the second after Jerez stopped a kick by Guity in the final three minutes.
In the first half, Guatemala had three shots on goal compared to only one for Honduras.
[flash width=425 height=350 loop=false:b79fba43dc]http://www.youtube.com/v/zVqH4GcTCVw[/flash:b79fba43dc]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clinching an Olympic berth and a trip to China is like getting to a World Cup. At least according to Honduran coach Alexis Mendoza, and now his players are celebrating.
Honduras earned a spot in the Olympic soccer tournament Thursday night, beating Guatemala 6-5 on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime in the CONCACAF qualifying semifinals.
"There's an immense happiness that comes up from your soul, because it was well deserved for everything they gave on the field," Mendoza said through a translator.
Honduras won when Guatemala's Rafael Morales tying attempt went over the goal.
"We didn't want to get to penalties but Guatemala did what they had to do with a player down - they forced us to penalties," Mendoza said.
Hondurus will face the United States, a 3-0 winner over Canada in the second semifinal, in the championship game Sunday.
Honduras finished second in Group B and Guatemala advanced by winning Group A.
But Honduras, which missed a chance to win in overtime despite a man advantage, took a 2-1 lead on penalty kicks as goalie Kevin Hernandez got both hands on the kick by Guatemala's Manuel Leon and blocked it. Irvin Reyna scored to put Honduras up 3-1.
Jose Cesar Guity sent a kick over the crossbar for Honduras, and Jean Marquez tied it back at three for Guatemala. The teams swapped kicks with Rigoberto Padilla and Erick Norales scoring for a 6-5 lead for Honduras. That put Morales in position to keep the penalty kicks going, but his kick went too high.
"We couldn't finish during regulation, plus 30 minutes extra," Guatemala coach Rodrigo Kenton said through a translator. "After that it's a Russian roulette. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't."
Still, Kenton said Guatemala's run in the qualifying tournament bodes well for his country's soccer program.
"I feel we will have another turn. We could have won. No one thought we would go this far," Kenton said.
Honduras had chances to score when Norales' free header went over the bar in the 51st minute for Honduras, and Guatemala goalie Ricardo Jerez dove to his right and grabbed the ball off a kick from Marvin Sanchez in front of the goal.
Guatemala nearly scored when Maynor Lopez, a second-half substitute, took a pass from about six yards out from the goal only to kick the ball just wide of the goal in the 81st minute. Marvin Avila missed a bicycle kick but kicked David Molina of Honduras in the head in the 84th minute.
Honduras had a chance to win in regulation off a free kick by Marvin Nunez in the final minute of regulation. But Luis Lopez's header went well over the crossbar of the goal.
Guatemala wound up a man short in the first period of overtime when Avila picked up his second yellow card in the 102nd minute for colliding with Guity. Avila took his time walking off the field, and a few bottles were thrown onto the field before he cleared.
Luis Lopez again tried to head in the ball off Sanchez's free kick except Jerez grabbed it for the save.
Then Guatemala's goalie started struggling in the second overtime, twice needing treatment for cramps with the second after Jerez stopped a kick by Guity in the final three minutes.
In the first half, Guatemala had three shots on goal compared to only one for Honduras.