2023-11-22 23:40:04
On the day following the controversial match at the Azteca Stadium, which was classified as a “robbery” by the press, the Honduran National Team returned to their country with their faces held high and with a hero’s welcome, despite being eliminated by Mexico in penalty shootout within the Quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League, which also meant El Tri’s ticket to the Copa América.
The soccer players and the coach, Reinaldo Rueda, monopolized the applause, cheers and requests for photographs from dozens of Hondurans who were at the Ramón Villeda Airport in San Pedro Sula.
Not even the bitter taste left by the defeat once morest the Mexican National Team dampened the spirit of the fans. Although in Honduras Tuesday’s game was described as a “robbery”, they felt harmed by the refereeing of Iván Barton, who added more than 11 minutes in the second half, in which Edson Álvarez scored the goal that forced extra time, and the subsequent decision to repeat a Tricolor penalty three times in the shootout.
“These are things that are rare to see, all that happened, but we have our heads held high because we played two good games. I tell people to continue believing in us, it is a very beautiful process we are going through and better things will come,” declared the Catracho national team Andy Najar at the Airport.
Honduran executive accused ‘Concacaf line’ to help Mexico
After the elimination at the Azteca Stadium, a man, who identified himself as vice president of the Honduran Soccer Federation, had a brief exchange of words with a member of the press, who asked him why there was so much indignation with the refereeing.
“Do you consider that so much time was wasted? If you like to win like that, celebrate,” said the leader, who was told that the addition obeyed the simulations of the Honduran soccer players.
“I congratulate him, he is going to win the Copa América and fulfill his dream of the fifth game,” replied the Fenafuth man in a sarcastic tone for the supposed referee help to Mexico, which tied the game until the 90+11 minute.
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