Hex Files: Honduras calls up four MLS players

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 25, 2017

Head coach Jorge Luis Pinto has called up 26 players for what he termed "life or death" matches against Costa Rica and Mexico in the final two World Cup 2018 qualifiers in Concacaf. The Catracho squad includes four MLS players, three from the Houston Dynamo (Oscar Boniek Garcia, Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis) and one from FC Dallas (Maynor Figueroa).

Honduras is fifth in the Hexagonal, one point behind Panama and tied with the USA. Because of its inferior goal difference -- the USA has an eight-goal -- Honduras must do better than the USA, which plays Panama and Trinidad & Tobago, in its final two games.

Honduras Roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana), Ricardo Canales (Vida).
DEFENDERS: Felix Crisanto (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Carlos Sanchez (Honduras Progreso), Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/MEX), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Ever Alvarado (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Al-Fayha/KSA), Allans Vargas (Real Espana).
MIDFIELDERS:: Brayan Acosta (Tenerife/ESP), Jorge Claros (Real Espana), Alexander Lopez (Olimpia), Alfredo Mejia (Xanthi/GRE), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa), Carlos Discua (Motagua), Sergio Pena (Real Sociedad), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo).
FORWARDS:Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo), Anthony Lozano (Barcelona B/ESP), Rony Martinez (Baoding Yingli Yitong/CHN), Ovidio Lanza (Juticalpa), Eddie Hernandez (Motagua).

Hexagonal Schedule:
MATCHDAY 9
October 6
USA vs. Panama
Costa Rica vs. Honduras
Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago

MATCHDAY 10
*October 10
Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA
Panama vs. Costa Rica
Honduras vs. Mexico
*Simultaneous kickoff.

Hexagonal Standings:
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
18 *Mexico 5-3-0 11/3
15 Costa Rica 4-3-1 12/5
10 Panama 2-4-2 7/5
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9 USA 2-3-3 12/11
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9 Honduras 2-3-3 9/16
3 Trin. & Tobago 1-0-7 4/15
*Qualifies for World Cup 2018.