Honduras 2
Flores 20’, Bodden 90+2’
Slovakia 2
Vestenicky 48’, 57’
Man of the match
Tomas Vestenicky (Slovakia)
ABU DHABI // Jorge Bodden struck an injury-time goal for Honduras to clinch a 2-2 draw over Slovakia in a Group A match of the U17 World Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday.
Tomas Vestenicky fired two second-half goals in quick succession for Slovakia take a 2-1 lead, but all their joy ended when Bodden, a substitute, scored from a goalmouth melee.
Honduras, who edged out a 10-man UAE unit in their opener, led 1-0 at the break courtesy of a Rembrandt Flores strike.
Vestenicky was on target three minutes into the second half and added the second nine minutes later.
But when it looked like Slovakia had done enough to bounce back from their 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Brazil in the opener, Honduras struck to leave them disappointed at the end.
Honduras celebrated early. Brayan Velasquez worked down the right flank before slipping a pass to Alberth Elis, whose shot was blocked by diving Slovak goalkeeper Martin Junas, and Flores capitalized in a flash to collect the loose ball and score.
Vestenicky cancelled the lead from a powerful shot from the centre of the box after picking up a pass from Nicolas Spalek. His second was a low shot in a one-on-one duel with Cristian Hernandez, the Honduras keeper.
Other results
Italy 1 New Zealand 0
Italy Vido 48’
Italy secured a place in the last 16 as Luca Vido once again scored for Italy mere minutes after the second half began to spark a crucial 1-0 victory over New Zealand at the Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah. Vido, above, pounced on a mistake by New Zealand goalkeeper Zac Speedy, who could only parry Alberto Cerri’s powerful shot into the half-time substitute’s path for an easy finish. New Zealand face Ivory Coast in their final game on Wednesday, while Italy meet second-place Uruguay.
Uruguay 1 Ivory Coast 1
Uruguay Acosta 90+4’
Ivory Coast Keita 17’
Uruguay looked dead and buried at the Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, only to rescue a point against Ivory Coast with a 1-1 draw, thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Franco Acosta with the final kick of the game. It took the Africans only 17 minutes to open the scoring, when Kouame N’Guessan played the ball through for Aboubakar Keita, who fired in a shot from well outside the box. The point took Uruguay to four points and second in Group B.
apassela@thenational.ae
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