PHOENIX, Arizona – As Honduras now begin to shift their focus to the knockout round of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and specifically their quarterfinal showdown in Phoenix, the Catrachos can take solace in the fact that they are already outpacing some of their predecessors from past Gold Cups in front of goal.
Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Qatar in their Group D finale, Honduras still managed to score seven goals during the group stage.
Only twice in Gold Cup history have Honduras scored more goals in a group stage. In the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1991 when Honduras reached their only Gold Cup Final, the Catrachos amassed 10 goals during the group stage.
Sixteen years later in 2007, Honduras tallied nine goals during the group stage, while in 2011 they scored seven group stage goals, matching this year’s total.
In that 2011 tournament, Honduras would finish the Gold Cup with eight goals as they reached the semifinals. Since then, Honduras’ largest goal haul in a Gold Cup came in 2019 with six goals when they finished in the group stage.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Fabian Coito, it is a different story in the 2021 tournament. The Central Americans scored four goals in a resounding 4-0 win to open the tournament against Grenada, followed by another three goals in the thrilling 3-2 win over regional rivals Panama.
That goalscoring form bodes well as Honduras take aim at Mexico in the quarterfinals.
Honduras are also spreading the wealth when it comes to their attack. Romell Quioto leads the group with three goals thus far in the tournament, but players like Jerry Bengtson, Edwin Solano, Johnny Leveron and Alexander Lopez have all contributed scores.
Needless to say, even with some injuries plaguing the squad at present, Honduras have the attacking weapons to take aim at their Gold Cup record mark of 12 goals that they set in the 1991 tournament.
It would be even sweeter to break that mark doing it in the country’s second Gold Cup Final appearance.
