DENVER, Colorado – Costa Rica MF Celso Borges is no stranger to big games against Honduras. The 33-year-old has played 11 matches against the Catrachos at the senior team level, not to mention youth national team matches as well.
Needless to say, the veteran player has a slew of memories when it comes to going up against Costa Rica’s Central American rivals in official competition.
One such affair that stands out is a 1-0 Costa Rica win at home on June 7, 2013 during World Cup Qualifying for Brazil 2014.
“The qualifiers against Honduras are always very special. I think the game that we won on the road to Brazil was particularly special. It was a very good qualifier. I think we had come into the match having to win no matter what and the match was wonderful. It was one of the best matches I can remember between the two teams and on that occasion, we won, so that’s one of the ones I remember the most,” said Borges in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com the day before Costa Rica’s Third-Place match versus Honduras in the 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals.
Borges was also fortunate to get a crack at the Catrachos at the youth national team level, and a goal that he scored in the 2005 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship proved pivotal in sending the Ticos to the Under-17 World Cup that same year.
“Also there was an Under-17 game when we beat them and we qualified for the Under-17 World Cup. I had the chance to score a goal, so those are great memories,” said Borges.
Oddly enough, while that goal against Honduras came at the youth level, none of Borges’ 23 goals at the senior level has been against Sunday’s opponent.
Borges would like nothing better than for that first goal against Honduras to come in a victory on Sunday.
“We’ll see. If it happens, great. For me, scoring a goal is always nice, but what I’m most concerned about is that the team wins and that we play well as a team,” concluded Borges.
