SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Curacao avenged their home defeat to Honduras from last Friday with a 2-1 victory over the Catrachos in Group C of League A of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League on Monday night at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

It was Curacao’s second win over the Central American side, the other coming in Curacao’s first ever Concacaf Gold Cup win in 2019.

Curacao very nearly had a dream start, as Elson Hooi hit the post inside the first minute of play, but Honduras were getting chances as well, including a warning shot from Romell Quioto in the 25’ that rippled the outside of the net.

But it was Curacao who would break the deadlock and it happened in dazzling fashion in the 34’ when an attempted clearance from the Honduran defense fell right to Leandro Bacuna, who curled in a left-footed sizzler to give Curacao a 1-0 lead.

Looking to spark his team, Honduras Head Coach Diego Vasquez made all five substitutions to start the second half, and the Catrachos would get the first look at goal in the second 45 minutes through Edwin Rodriguez, whose low driving shot required a save from Curacao GK Eloy Room.

As the second half wore on, it took on the shape of Honduras mostly pegging Curacao back in their own half, but unable to find a way through. Meanwhile, Curacao stayed patient in their approach and then tried to hit the Hondurans on the counterattack.

Honduras committed numbers forward as time ticked away, but the space left in the back would come back to haunt them.

After a Honduran giveaway in their own half, Curacao tacked on a crucial insurance goal in the 82’ through Anthony van der Hurk, whose composed right-footed finish beat Honduras GK Harold Fonseca to make it 2-0.

Quioto was able to pull a goal back, 2-1, deep into stoppage time with a superb free kick, but in the end the three points belonged to the Caribbean visitors.