Will Honduras turn the corner under Gómez?
The Honduran national team is unlikely to qualify for the 2022 World Cup via a direct starting spot. After six match days in the current World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF zone, Honduras are in last place. So far, “Los Catrachos” have not won a single match in the decisive qualifying phase.
In six attempts, there have been three wins and three defeats. Especially the offensive has been in catastrophic shape. After all, only two goals were scored in six group matches. The seventh matchday is scheduled for Friday night (CET), with “Los Catrachos” also benefiting from home advantage.
The assessment is surprising, as the upcoming opponents from Panama are still in the race for the 2022 World Cup. Currently, the Panamanian national team is even in fourth place, which at least guarantees participation in the play-offs.
The last time the two nations met was in the 2021 Gold Cup. After an exchange of blows between the attacking departments, there was a narrow victory for Honduras. A total of five goals were scored – three of them in favour of the Hondurans.
Honduras – Statistics & current form
There is still an entire second leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers to go. Despite a poor starting position, the Honduran national team, as the last team in the table, still has a mathematical chance of a starting place for the 2022 World Cup. Above all, fourth place is still within reach, so the upcoming home match against Panama seems all the more important and trend-setting.
In the event of a win over the Panamanians, Honduras can reduce the gap to fourth place in the table. The recent record against the upcoming opponents is encouraging. Honduras have won three of their last four international matches against Panama since November 2016. This includes the last encounter in the 2021 Gold Cup, when Honduras celebrated a 3-2 victory.
In the last international break, Honduras not only remained winless in three matches, but also failed to score in all three. They suffered a surprising defeat at home to Jamaica in their last qualifier against the equally in-form “Reggae Boyz”.
Has the offensive knot been broken?
Although Honduras had more game shares and also generated more chances, Jamaica prevailed 2-0 at the Hondurans. This was the eighth win in a row for the home side. The last time the Honduran national team won an international match was in July 2021, and since then they have only lost and drawn.
That victory came just under four months ago against Panama. On Friday night, Honduras will have the chance to end their current negative streak against the Panamanian national team. The last time Honduras met Panama at home was almost three years ago, when “Los Catrachos” won by a narrow margin.
Since July 2005, the Hondurans have not won two home games in a row against Panama. If that negative streak comes to an end, odds of 2.40 for tip 1 will be paid out in Honduras’ upcoming home match against Panama. Hernán Gómez will make his debut as the new national coach for the hosts. The Colombian will have most of his key players at his disposal.
Predicted Honduras line-up:
Lopez – Najar, Maldonado, Pereira, Figueroa – Arriaga, Flores – Elis, Lopez, Moya – Quioto
Last matches played by Honduras:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
10/14 2021 – Honduras 0 – 2 Jamaica
10/11 2021 – Mexico 3 – 0 Honduras
10/08 2021 – Honduras 0 – 0 Costa Rica
09/09 2021 – Honduras 1 – 4 USA
09/06 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 0 Honduras
Panama – Statistics & current form
Panama still have a realistic chance of punching their ticket to a World Cup for the second time in the association’s history. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, “Los Canaleros” were represented at the prestigious competition for the first time ever. Panama entered the 2018 World Cup as one of the three best nations in the CONCACAF zone, even without a play-off.
This time – at least that is the interim conclusion after six match days – it is rather unrealistic that Panama will reach the 2022 World Cup without a play-off ticket. With Mexico, the USA and Canada, there are three nations in good form that are already on course for the upcoming World Cup. The latter even won 4-1 against Panama in their most recent encounter.
Panama’s clear defeat by Canada was certainly surprising. Just one matchday earlier, the Panamanian national team had won the game against the US. The underdog even kept its clean slate.
Next away defeat for Panama?
In the three away matches of the current 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Panama had one win and two defeats. Apart from the bitter away defeat at the hands of the Canadians, where “Los Canaleros” scored four times, Panama also lost in El Salvador. The only away win was against Jamaica.
Panama have won only one away match in Honduras since June 2012. That victory came almost five years ago, also in the context of a World Cup qualifier. Because “Los Canaleros” recently delivered a poor performance in Canada, it is more than risky to make a prediction on the visitors in the upcoming match between Honduras and Panama.
National coach Thomas Christiansen did not have any serious absences during the current international break and will start with the best possible line-up. Meanwhile, Gabriel Torres (22 goals) and Rolando Blackburn (10 goals) are the two most prolific attackers for “Los Canaleros”.
Predicted Panama line-up:
Mejia – Murillo, Escobar, Cummings, Davis – Godoy, Cooper – Rodriguez, Quintero, Torres – Blackburn
Last matches played by Panama:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
10/14 2021 – Canada 4 – 1 Panama
10/11 2021 – Panama 1 – 0 USA
10/08 2021 – El Salvador 1 – 0 Panama
09/09 2021 – Panama 1 – 1 Mexico
09/06 2021 – Jamaica 0 – 3 Panama
Honduras – Panama Direct comparison / H2H balance
This is the 39th time that Honduras and Panama have met. So far, the Hondurans have a record of 20-10-8. In the last four international matches, Honduras remained unbeaten against Panama. Los Catrachos” have won three and drawn one. One of the three full victories came in the most recent Gold Cup 2021.
Despite trailing at half-time, Honduras beat the Panamanians 3-2. Romell Quioto scored twice and another goal was disallowed after a VAR decision.
Honduras – Panama Tip
Honduras are under pressure to win this week in order to keep their chance of winning the 2022 World Cup alive. The six-point game against Panama is particularly important, as a win against “Los Canaleros” can minimise the gap to fourth place. Honduras have not won a qualifying match in six attempts.
Under new national coach Hernán Gómez, the Hondurans want to turn the tide. The Colombian took over the Honduran national team after a sustained slump and will make his debut as the new national coach of “Los Catrachos” against Panama. Gómez will start the international match against the Panamanians with the best possible line-up.
Honduras have won three of their last four international matches against the Panamanian national team. Therefore, the high odds on a home win, especially after the recent away debacle of the Panamanians, do have value. With a stake of six units, we place our bet on Honduras vs Panama at attractive odds on the home side.
