Honduras down game 10-man Martinique 4-2

FORT-DE-FRANCE: Honduras struggled against a depleted 10-man team from Martinique but prevailed to win a 4-2 victory in a football qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Martinique got off to the worst possible start when they lost midfielder Jeah luke Desprol in the 12th minute for a violent foul on striker Milmar Neal. Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez chose severe punishment with an immediate red card, leaving the hosts to fight the rest of the way with 10 men. Honduras capitalised shortly after when Neal dusted himself off and scored in the 31st minute for a 1-0 advantage for Honduras. Playing before home fans, Martinique lifted their game and showed real poise in equalising, through Jose Thiery Goran three minutes after the interval. Despite the loss of Desprol, the home side took the fight to the Hondurans.

They fell behind when Jose Ramirez netted in the 63 for a 2-1 advantage for the visitors but stormed back to cancel that out with a 67th minute goal of their own. Willy Padoly found the net. But Martinique’s resolve faded and, hampered by their 10-man limitation, allowed two late goals. Turcois Elvis scored after 73 minutes to make it 3-2 for Honduras. It was a lead they did not relinquish as they tacked on an insurance item a minute from time, when Walter Hernandez scored in the 89th minute, to round off the scoring. Martinique still will be in the Gold Cup Finals. Like Honduras, they ensured that with victories over Trinidad and Tobago in earlier matches. The Gold Cup matches will be played in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Miami and Mexico City.