Canada celebrates its win in Honduras. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)
Canada remained atop the Concacaf Octagonal, registering a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win at Honduras in Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula on Thursday night.
It was the Canadians’ first victory over Los Catrachos since 1985.
The Maple Leafs (5-0-4, 19 points) lead the United States (5-1-3, 18), which edged El Salvador in Columbus, Ohio.
The visitors were given all the scoring they needed in the 10th minute as Denil Maldonado deflected Tajon Buchanan’s cross into his own goal.
Jonathan David doubled the lead in the 73rd minute as he scored off a Liam Fraser assist for a two-goal advantage.
“We came in here to grind the result out and I thought that’s what the players did. We knew we had the quality in transition and we knew if we could manage the front three, we’d be ok,” Canada head coach John Herdman said. “We’ll keep relying on that mettle, that comradery, that brotherhood and we’ll fight, that’s what it will be in any game against the US. You’ve gotta bring the battle. It’s a cup final at home.”
Canada and the U.S. meet in another qualifier in Hamilton, Ontario on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
In another qualifier of note, Mexico rallied from a goal deficit to register a 2-1 win at Jamaica.
