HOUSTON, Texas — With the top spot of Group D on the line, Honduras and Qatar meet to decide their fate beyond the group stage in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Tuesday night at BBVA Stadium in Houston.
Qatar started the tournament with a 3-3 draw against Panama and proceeded to collect their first win over Grenada, 4-0. Yet to clinch a spot in the next round, the AFC Asian Cup champions need at least a draw to advance to the knockout stage and could do so as the head of the group with a victory.
Honduras have secured their first knockout stage appearance since the 2017 edition. Three times before, the Central Americans began their Gold Cup campaign with two victories, reaching the final in 1991 and semifinals in 2013.
Both Honduras and Qatar started with well-oiled attacks, scoring seven goals through their first two group matches. Of the 16 teams in the Gold Cup, only Canada and the United States had as many or more goals scored.
The two sides will also look to stay undefeated in this edition of the tournament. Qatar, participating in its first Gold Cup, has yet to lose in the tournament, while Honduras is hoping to finish the group stage with three straight wins for the first time.
The only other time that Honduras went perfect in the group stage was in the 2000 edition, at which point only two matches were played in the opening round. They also went undefeated in 1991 with two wins and one draw.
The only loss for Los Catrachos in 1991 came on penalties to the United States after a shootout was needed to decide the inaugural Gold Cup champion.
Honduras’ Romell Quioto is at the top of the current goal scoring charts with three to his name, while Qatar’s Akram Afif and Almoez Ali aren’t far behind with two goals apiece.
Those players should provide plenty of fireworks in a match to decide group bragging rights.
