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The players of the Mexican team celebrate the victory in San Pedro Sula, in Honduras. JOSE CABEZAS (REUTERS)
A lot of force, a lot of thrust, but little precision.
The Mexican team turned to San Pedro Sula to take the victory as an away.
A victory was vital to get into the World Cup and to give Tata Martino's management a break, which accumulates doubts.
El Tri beat Honduras 0-1 with an own goal, which meant an oxygen ball.
The Mexicans still have to beat or tie El Salvador this Wednesday (19.05, local time) at the Azteca stadium to finalize their pass to Qatar.
HON Honduras
0
Luis López, Marcelo Santos, Marcelo Pereira, Denil Maldonado, Wesly Decas, Bryan Acosta (Gerson Chávez, min. 83), Alfredo Mejía, Kevin López, Kervin Arriaga, Cristian Sacaza and Ángel Tejeda
MEX Mexico
1
Ochoa, Johan Vásquez, Gerardo Daniel Arteaga Zamora, Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Edson Álvarez, Héctor Herrera, Carlos Rodríguez (Diego Lainez, min. 66), Raúl Jiménez (Erick Gutiérrez, min. 80), Jesús Corona (Carlos Antuna, min. 66) and Hirving Lozano (Henry Martin, min. 80)
Goals
0-1 min.
70: Edson Alvarez.
Yellow cards Kervin Arriaga (min. 6), Héctor Herrera (min. 28), Gerardo Daniel Arteaga Zamora (min. 64), Kevin López (min. 68) and Denil Maldonado (min. 75)
The Mexicans faced a sad Honduras that was already eliminated.
He also did not have fans in the stands due to a suspension by FIFA after an incident of violence against El Salvador.
Mexico was also orphaned by its foreman, by Martino, who did not make the trip due to medical leave.
The Mexican team suffered too much to find the aim.
Martino, remotely, sent Raúl Jiménez to the field as his leading scorer, flanked by Hirving Lozano and Jesús
Tecatito
Corona.
The attack was again so scattered that they did not find the goal.
It was not until the 70th minute when they scored after a good header by Edson Álvarez, deflected by the Honduran defense, for the 0-1.
The referee awarded the Honduran own goal to Junior Lacayo.
A score that removed a brick from the pressure slab that increased after drawing 0-0 against the United States, with overtones of defeat.
The Mexican barrage is backed up by the statistics: 17 shots on goal by four from the Hondurans.
Possession of the ball also went to Mexico with 67% and nine corner kicks.
Only a catastrophe would prevent Mexico from entering the World Cup: in the worst case, the playoff is assured.
El Salvador, who no longer has anything to play for, will have the task of bothering a Tri team that looks at Canada's classification with bewilderment.
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