On the night of Tuesday, September 8, 2021, Honduras will play their eighth World Cup qualification match when they meet the United States in a match in the Cancun stadium in the Mexican Caribbean state of Quintana Roo.
The Honduras vs. United States football match is scheduled on September 8, 2021 at the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City. The match will be the final game of the 2019 FIFA World Cup qualification process. The teams have already played each other in the final match of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying round, although the results of that match are unknown. Both teams are coming into this match on the back of recent disappointments.
Ricardo Pepi scored a goal and added two assists as the US beat Honduras 4-1 in a World Cup qualifying match in which Christian Pulisic was forced to leave with an ankle injury.
After two straight ties against El Salvador and then Canada in Nashville, Tennessee, the United States men’s national soccer team has won for the first time in the eight-team qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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“Perhaps we imagined it would be simpler than traveling down to El Salvador, Honduras.” There are some difficult games to play, dude. You can see how angry the fans are, but the intensity and atmosphere are incredible,” remarked midfielder Tyler Adams.
All three half-time additions — Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Lletget, and Antonee Robinson — scored goals, but the victory will be remembered most for 18-year-old attacker Pepi’s amazing debut performance.
Pepi, 18, scored the game-winning goal and assisted on all three others only two weeks after deciding to play for the United States over Mexico.
The FC Dallas forward was the highlight of his international debut, becoming the second-youngest USMNT player behind Pulisic to participate in a World Cup qualifier.
“When I chose to play for the United States, I promised myself that I would give all I had to this squad, and I did,” Pepi stated. “On the way here, Gregg [USMNT coach Berhalter] informed me I was going to start on the aircraft. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I took advantage of it.”
In front of a horn-blowing packed crowd at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Brayan Maya put Honduras ahead in the 27th minute of a one-sided first half.
Following the halftime break, Berhalter made numerous lineup changes, including the introduction of Robinson, who tied the game in the 48th minute with a shot from Pepi’s first effort.
Pulisic was replaced in the 62nd minute after injuring his ankle. After a challenge, he required medical attention before collapsing while attempting to run on a dribble. Cristian Roldan took his position.
“We’ll receive more information on the severity of it when he returns to London [for his club, Chelsea],” Berhalter said of Pulisic’s injury.
Home the 75th minute, Pepi headed in DeAndre Yedlin’s cross for the United States’ second goal.
In the United States men’s national soccer team’s 4-1 victory against Honduras, Ricardo Pepi (14) had an impressive debut. Moises Castillo/AP Photo
Aaronson essentially secured the three points with a goal in the 86th minute, followed by Lletget’s goal in stoppage time, both of which were set up by Pepi.
“We just battled,” Lletget said. “All we had to do was equal their ferocity. The greatest difference in the second half was that.”
Aaronson had also scored the lone goal for the Americans in the previous game, a 1-1 tie with Canada in Nashville.
“I was so fired up today, I’m not sure what got into me, but I was ready to go; and you could see it with all the subs.” Aaronson described it as a “spark.”
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Robinson concurred.
“”I think it’s very essential that we did it simply to show everyone that it’ll be a difficult qualifying process at times, but we’re ready for the difficulties ahead,” Robinson added. “Anything will elicit a response from us.”
Due to injury, the United States were missing defender Sergino Dest and forward Giovanni Reyna, while midfielder Weston McKennie was banned for the second game in a row for breaching the team’s COVID-19 rules.
With seven points, Mexico leads the eight-team standings, followed by Panama, Canada, and the United States, who each have five. Honduras and El Salvador each have two points, Costa Rica has one, while Jamaica doesn’t have any. The top three teams will qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth-placed team will compete in a playoff for a berth in Qatar.
The United States’ next three-match qualifying cycle starts on Oct. 7 in Austin, Texas, against Jamaica. The United States will face Panama on October 10 and then host Costa Rica on October 13 in Columbus, Ohio.
This article was written with the help of the Associated Press.
