Mexico entered the CONCACAF Country League (CNL) on Friday with the quarterfinals pitting them in a two-legged fight with Honduras for a spot in the final four. The Francisco Morazán Stadium will host this with local benefit interested in Reinaldo Rueda and his players. El Tri who may be willing to walk a higher path than the final defeat of the final rhythm. The Catrachos left the level of League B teams at the time the Mexicans entered this level. Honduras beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 before falling 2-1 to Jamaica with a narrow victory over French Guiana followed by another draw with Jamaica to beat Nicaragua into second place on goals.
Mexico lost 2-0 to the USMNT in their last CNL appearance, but failed in this summer’s US Cup and have since regained some confidence. A goalless draw with Ecuador was no longer enough for a place in the quarter-finals and a pleasing 3-0 win over New Zealand was followed by another nil-nil with Canada as Javier Aguirre returned to group supremacy. A 2-0 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s United States in October has them back with some momentum and now the Mexicans can fight for the semi-finals as the fortunes of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup push them against the overall standings.
Below are our stories, how you’ll oversee the fit, and more:
Find out how to monitor and the odds
- Chance: Friday, November 15 | Hour: 9 pm Eastern Time
- Location: Francisco Morazán Stadium – San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- TV: Univision | Resident wave: Fubo (points to isolated)
- Odd: Honduras +333; Draw +250; Mexico -143
CNL quarterfinals
Honduras overcame Team B to reach the knockout rounds when Mexico reached this level and win their first title in the CONCACAF National League despite reaching the final. El Tri aspires to travel five years without losing and avenge their painful final defeat.
Crew information
Honduras: Rueda should stay with Denil Maldonado and Luis Vega when defending. Bryan Acosta will look to return in midfield closer to Deiby Flores and Kervin Arriaga were paired in his last age. Anthony Lozano leads the series with 15 goals in 55 appearances with Rubilio Castillo, Jorge Benguche and Jorge Álvarez competing to accompany him.
Imaginable Honduras XI: Menjívar; Nájar, Maldonado, Vega, Rosales; Rivas, Arriaga, Acosta, Rodríguez; Lozano, Benguche.
Mexico: Aguirre is without Hirving Lozano and Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez was injured again in September, so Raúl Jiménez will take the lead with 34 goals in 105 international games. Henry Martín could attend along with Orbelín Pineda and César Huerta. Andrés Guardado earned his 180th international cap against the late United States, but Luis Romo could be close to captain Edson Álvarez in midfield.
Mexico Imaginable XI: Malagon; Sánchez, Vásquez, Montes, Angulo; Álvarez, Romo; Martin, Pineda, Huerta; Jimenez.
Prediction
Expect this to be tough on the parks for El Tri, but Aguirre’s men will eventually edge out the winners by a goal or two to claim supremacy in the first leg. Choose: Honduras 0, Mexico 2
