Mere hours remain until kickoff to the match that will decide whether Canada progresses to the next round of CONCACAF qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The dreaded Hex is visible on the horizon, but standing in the way is Canada’s old foe, Honduras. CONCACAF, the confederation that spans the Americas and the Caribbean, is a vast region comprising many different cultures and as such has a tendency to create strange bedfellows.
The rivalry between the two goes way back and as both brace for the most recent installment - this afternoon - that will most likely see one eliminated while the other moves on – unless of course Cuba miraculously beats Panama – now is as good a time as any to look back over those past meetings.
1980 – September 11th Friendly - Venue Unknown - Tegucigalpa, HON
A 2-0 win for the Hondurans in the first ever meeting between the two nations’ senior sides.
1981 – November 11th 1982 World Cup Qualification - Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino – Tegucigalpa, HON
A 2-1 win for the Hondurans on first half goals from Carlos Orlando Caballero and Jose Roberto Figueroa, either side of an Ian Bridge goal for Canada. This was an odd one; all CONCACAF Qualification matches were played in a mini-tournament hosted in Honduras.
The controversy begins here as the linesman reportedly had his flag up indicating the Figueroa goal was offside, but it stood nevertheless as the game winner.
Honduras would go on to win the round robin and progress to Spain ’82 with El Salvador in tow. Canada finished fourth, one point and one goal shy of qualification.
1983 – December 11th Friendly – Venue Unknown - San Pedro Sula, HON
A 3-1 win for the Hondurans with George Pakos scoring the lone Canadian goal. Randy Samuel makes his debut for Canada.
1983 – December 14th Friendly – Venue Unknown - San Pedro Sula, HON
1-0 win for the Hondurans three days later with Dave Norman making his debut for Canada. Concluding a December International series of three matches, all losses, including a 5-0 loss in Mexico.
1985 – August 25th 1986 World Cup Qualification – Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino - Tegucigalpa, HON
A 0-1 win for the Canadians, their first against the Hondurans. A 60th minute George Pakos strike was enough to see Canada nab a victory on the road, with Tino Lettieri posting the clean-sheet.
1985 – September 14th 1986 World Cup Qualification – King George V Park - St. John’s, NL, CAN
Three weeks on a 2-1 win for the Canadians – perhaps their most famous victory - at a small park in Newfoundland sees Canada qualify for their one and only World Cup Finals.
George Pakos, again, opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Porfirio Armando Betancourt drew Honduras back level in the 49th only for Igor Vrablic for put Canada back in front for good in the 61st.
1987 – October 2nd Friendly – Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino - Tegucigalpa, HON
A 1-1 draw - John Catliff scoring the lone Canadian tally.
1991 – June 28th 1991 Gold Cup – Memorial Coliseum - Los Angeles, CA, USA
A 4-2 win for the Hondurans in the first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup match. A second half Dale Mitchell brace, despite being down a man with Craig Forrest sent off in the 28th minute - was not enough to make up for the four Honduras scored in the first fifty minutes of play.
Canada would fail to progress out of the group, while the Hondurans would top it and reach the final where they lost 4-3 on spot kicks against the USA.
1993 – April 4th 1994 World Cup Qualification – Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino - Tegucigalpa, HON
A 2-2 draw in the open match of qualification for the 1994 World Cup to be held in the USA.
John Catliff opened the scoring in the 34th with a penalty kick, only for Richardson Smith to convert a spot kick of his own in the 41st. Alex Bunbury then put Canada back in front in the 68th, but Cesar Obando equalized with an 89th minute penalty.
The controversy continues – the match had to be stopped for five minutes after Canada took the lead as players and officials were pelted with missiles, the last minute equalizing penalty left Canada feeling robbed.
1993 – April 18th 1994 World Cup Qualification – Swangard Stadium - Burnaby. BC, CAN
Canada found revenge two weeks later with a 3-1 win.
Honduras took the lead through a 17th minute Alex Pineda Chacon goal, only for Canada to respond with three unanswered tallies in the second half – Domenic Mobilio in the 52nd, a Dangelo Bautista own-goal in the 61st and a John Catliff penalty in the 71st.
Honduran keeper Angelo Bautista is red-carded, leading to Catliff’s penalty kick, which was converted following a long delay, Mauricio Funes would join him for an early shower later in the match, further reducing Honduras to nine-men.
1996 – January 9th 1996 Gold Cup – Edison International Field - Anaheim, CA, USA
Once more draw together in group play at the ’96 edition of the Gold Cup, Canada would win 3-1 taking the lead through an early Carlo Corazzin strike – his first for Canada - and the first of a brace by Kevin Holness before Presley Carson drew one back before half-time. Holness completed his brace to ensure Canada would win their opening match of the tournament.
Both Canada and Honduras would go on to lose heavily to guest-side Brazil, who would progress to the final before losing 2-0 to Mexico.
2000 – May 30th Friendly – Winnipeg Soccer Complex - Winnipeg, MB, CAN
A 2-1 win for the Canadians Paul Peschisolido and Kevin McKenna scoring either side of an Orbin Cabrera strike. It was McKenna’s first goal for the National Team.
2004 – September 4th 2006 World Cup Qualification – Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, AB, CAN
A 1-1 draw with an 82nd minute Jason de Vos goal cancelled out by an 88th minute Amado Guevara penalty kick.
Benito Archundia alert, awarding the late penalty kick to the Hondurans converted by El Lobo, Guevara.
It would be Peschisolido’s final appearance for Canada.
2004 – October 9th 2006 World Cup Qualification – Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano - San Pedro Sula, HON
Another 1-1 draw in the return fixture nearly a month later. Atiba Hutchinson’s 73rd minute goal – his first international strike - was nullified by a 92nd minute Danilo Turcios strike.
Canada would finish bottom of the group – five points after six matches; Honduras too would fail to progress to the Hex.
2005 – July 1st Friendly – Swangard Stadium - Burnaby, BC, CAN
A 2-1 win for the Hondurans on early second half strikes from Francisco Ramirez and Wilmer Velasquez; McKenna would score in consolation.
2008 – September 6th 2010 World Cup Qualification – Stade Saputo - Montreal, QC, CAN
A 1-2 win for the Hondurans.
Adrian Serioux’s 4th minute header was erased by a nine minute Ramon Nunez brace (47th and 56th) in the second half. Canada would lose Tomasz Radzinski to a hand injury after he was pushed into the advertising hoarding and later Patrice Bernier to two yellow cards within three minutes.
A terrible start to their qualification campaign with two losses in two home matches, Canada would eventually finished last in the group with a mere two points.
2008 – October 11th 2010 World Cup Qualification - Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano - San Pedro Sula, HON
A 3-1 win for the Hondurans. Walter Martinez opened the scoring in the 9th minute, but Andre Hainault responded in kind in the second half, only for Carlos Costly to reestablish the Honduran lead eleven minutes later. Hendry Thomas added an insurance tally in the 90th.
Honduras would top the group and eventually qualify for the World Cup in South Africa.
2009 – July 18th 2009 Gold Cup Quarterfinal – Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA, USA
A 1-0 win for the Hondurans on a controversial 36th minute penalty kick awarded by Joel Aguilar of El Salvador that saw Honduras progress to the next round where they fell to the USA 2-0.
2010 - September 7th Friendly - Stade Saputo - Montreal, QC, CAN
A 2-1 win for the Canadians on first half goals from Josh Simpson and Kevin McKenna bookending a Erick Norales tally in the 34th minute.
Paul Stalteri would take over the national record with his 83rd cap for Canada.
2012 – June 12th 2014 World Cup Qualification – BMO Field - Toronto, ON, CAN
A 0-0 draw in the second game of the opening series of qualification for the 2014 Brazilian World Cup.
Canada is right to lament not being able to convert the many chances that came their way as the Hondurans struggled out of the gate and had the Canadian’s won would have rendered this final game meaningless.
The tension is palpable.
Canada’s Record
All-time – 20 matches: 6 wins, 5 draws, 9 losses
At home – 8 matches: 4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses
In Honduras – 9 matches: 1 win, 3 draws, 5 losses
Neutral Ground – 3 matches: 1 win, 2 losses
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