El Salvador stay alive with win over Haiti, Honduras
… go atop Group B after draw with Canada

JOSHUA Perez bagged a brace to lead El Salvador to a 2-1 win over Haiti in their Group B finale of the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship last Thursday at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

With the victory, El Salvador’s hopes of reaching the knockout round are still alive, pending the result of the Canada-Honduras match.
El Salvador started off by poking and prodding the Haitian defence before breaking through in the 19 minute with a superb strike from Joshua Perez, who received a pass in-between a pair of defenders and fired in a left-footed shot to make it a 1-0 El Salvador lead.

The joy was short-lived though, as less than two minutes later Haiti pulled back level 1-1 when an El Salvador giveaway in their own half led to a quick break, with Roberto Louima fighting off a trio of defenders and beating El Salvador GK Tomas Romero for the equaliser.

El Salvador then regained the lead right before halftime, with Perez following up his header that deflected off the post and finishing with his left foot to make it 2-1 to El Salvador.
El Salvador were keen to add to their lead to start the second half and had several looks at goal, but were unable to find a way past Haiti GK Alan Jerome.
The reprieve sparked Haiti to life in attack and Louima, along with Peterson Joseph, suddenly had the Salvadoran defence and Romero on their heels.
Danley Jean had one final look at goal for Haiti, but was unable to convert, allowing El Salvador to see things out to claim the win.

Meanwhile, Honduras claimed the top spot in Group B of the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship by virtue of a 1-1 draw with Canada in their group stage finale on Thursday night at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Catrachos completed the group stage with five points and a first-place finish and will now face the United States in today’s semifinals in which the winner will advance to the 2020 Olympics In Tokyo.

Canada wrapped up their Group B campaign with five points as well, finishing second on goal difference and will now take on host nation Mexico in hopes of a first Olympic berth since 1984.
Honduras had a bright start and Kervin Arriaga came within a whisker of the opening goal in the 9th minute with a right-footed shot that slammed onto the post and went out.
Canada reacted well and after missing on an earlier header, Derek Cornelius found the target in the 28th minute on his second attempt to give Canada a 1-0 lead by connecting on a cross from Patrick Metcalfe.

Honduras’ response was immediate and two minutes later in the 30th minute Denil Maldonado was first to reach Edwin Rodriguez’s free-kick and headed in past Canada GK James Pantemis to draw the Catrachos level 1-1.

The second half started off with a good tempo and Juan Carlos Obregon was set to give the Hondurans their first lead of the night in the 54th minute, but was unable to head into the net from just a few yards out.

In the 73rd minute it was Luis Palma almost converting on a loose ball in the area but the Honduran attacker saw his shot blocked by Pantemis.
In the end, Honduras were never able to find a second goal, but the result was enough to seal a first-place finish. (Sportsmax)