Honduras versus Mexico – Gold Cup semi-final: Match Review
Honduras and Mexico played out their Gold Cup semi-final encounter on 23rd of June, 2011 at Reliant Stadium in Houston Texas as Honduras utilized a 4-5-1 formation in order stifle Mexico’s rampant attack. Honduras opted to use http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mauricio-c24899 Sabillón.
In the Honduran midfield, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giovani-dos-Santos-c14983 played as a link up man between Mexico’s midfield and their solitary striker Javier Hernandez.
The match itself was a feisty affair as there were three yellow cards in the first half. Mexico dominated the opening forty five minutes of play but they found it difficult to break down the Honduran midfield which was constantly protected by their two central midfielders. This stalemate carried into the second half. However during the half time break, Honduras made their first change of the night when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Victor-c36011 Bernárdez was replaced by Johnny Harold Leverón Uclés.
The match continued into extra time where Mexico struck first blood in the 93rd minute with Jesús http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edson-c12005 Barrera bagged an assist for De Nigris’ strike which took the score line to 1-0. In the 99th minute, Javier Hernandez added another goal to Mexico’s one goal advantage when he tapped in De Nigris’ through ball.
The match ended in a sending off for Roger Espinoza as the Honduran midfielder received two yellow cards within six minutes of the second half of extra time. Nonetheless by gaining a two nil win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mexico-c2956 sealed their place in the pen-ultimate match of the Gold Cup against U.S.A. Hernandez and De Nigris were standout performers for Mexico whilst Honduras collapsed under pressure in extra time after defending resolutely inside regulation time.
Tags: