CONCACAF Gold Cup holders Mexico will look to make another Gold Cup final as they take on Honduras in the semi-finals in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Mexico finished top of Group A, after securing wins over Suriname and the Dominican Republic before playing out a goalless draw against Costa Rica, finishing above Los Ticos on goal difference.
That set up a tie with Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals, and second-half goals from Alexis Vega and Abdullah Madu (OG) gave Javier Aguirre’s men a 2-0 victory over The Green Falcons, as well as our man, The Betting Desk, a full house of winners.
Honduras made a disastrous start to their Gold Cup campaign, as they were thrashed 6-0 by Canada in their group opener.
However, wins over El Salvador and Curucao meant Reinaldo Rueda’s side finished runners-up to The Canucks in Group B and set up a tie in the quarter-finals with Group C winners.
It looked like Honduras were going to exit at the quarter-finals stage, but an 82nd-minute equaliser from Choco Lozano sent the game to penalties, with Los Catrachos eventually prevailing.
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How the bookies view it: Mexico firm favourites
Mexico are firm favourites to reach the Gold Cup final, with BoyleSports pricing them at just 1/4 to secure victory inside 90 minutes.
Honduras are a massive 10/1 to win in regulation time and reach a first Gold Cup final since 1991, whilst it’s 4/1 for the match to end in a draw.
Head to head: El Tri with slight recent advantage
Mexico have been victorious in six of their previous eight meetings with Honduras, including a 4-0 victory in their most recent clash in the CONCACAF Nations League last November.
However, Honduras will take confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last four encounters with Mexico.
Players to watch: Raul to reign?
Raul Jimenez had a fine season for Fulham last season, with the forward netting 12 goals in the Premier League. He also bagged the first against the Dominican Republic in their opening game at the tournament, but hasn’t scored since, and he is 23/20 at William Hill to break his duck here.
The most well-known player in the Honduras ranks for many is Celtic winger Luis Palma, who spent the second half of last season at Olympiakos. Palma has started the previous three matches for Honduras on the bench, but did come on to score the winner against Curucao and is 8/1 at PaddyPower and William Hill to score here.
Predicted line-ups:
Javier Aguirre will be forced into one alteration from the one that started their victory over Saudi Arabia, with Jesus Gallardo suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.
Honduras appear to have a clean bill of health for this clash, but Reinaldo Ruena may opt for goal-scorer Choco Lozano from the start.
Mexico: Malagon, Araujo, Alvarez, Vasquez, Chavez, Ruiz, Lira, Mora, Alvarado, Vega, Jimenez
Honduras: Menjivar, Cristanto, Maldonado, Martinez, Rosales, Arriaga, Flores, Rodriguez, Quioto, Alvarez, Lozano
Anything else catch the eye?
As mentioned above, Mexico come into this clash as firm favourites, and you’d expect them to be too strong for the Hondurans.
After conceding two goals in their 3-2 success over the Dominican Republic in their group opener, El Tri have recorded three successive clean sheets, and a Mexico Win to Nil pays 4/5 at BoyleSports, which appeals to me here.
What’s more, Mexico’s last two victories against both Suriname and Saudi Arabia finished 2-0, and a win featuring under four goals pays 20/23, also at BoyleSports, which also appeals.
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