Updated at 00:55
ECUADOR DEFEATED HONDURAS 2-1 in their World Cup Group E clash but the vanquished Central Americans will feel hard-done-by after they were denied a clear penalty in the second half.
Both sides have earned reputations, from games before and during the tournament, as hard tackle merchants and none of the 2o out-field have shirked a challenge. The opening half hour was notable for Enner Valencia missing a sitter and Victor Bernardez falling over in the Honduras box as he got into a clearance muddle.
Honduras scored their first World Cup goal on 31 minutes after a long-ball punt was flicked on and George Costly kept his nerve to slot home. It was the team’s first goal in the tournament since 1982. They featured in 2010 after a 28-year gap but did not find the net.
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The Honduran lead was short-lived as a ball, skittered into their box at pace, was not cleared before falling to Valencia at the back post. The striker scored his sixth goal in six games to level matters.
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Bernardez came close with a pile-driver free-kick before Honduras has an injury time goal chalked off for offside. Jerry Bengston was marginally ahead of Costly as his header crashed off the post. He bundled in the rebound but the goal was ruled out.
Valencia scored his third goal of the tournament after 64 minutes when he scored a header from a whipped-in free.
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Honduras pressed for an equaliser and were denied a penalty after 75 minutes when Costly was wrestled to the ground in the box. Antonio Valencia thought he had scored to make it 3-1 but his injury time goal was notched off for a handball in the lead-up to the score.
– First published 23:51 (Friday)
