Trinidad and Tobago Defeats Honduras, 3-1

In the first game of the afternoon doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum, Trinidad and Tobago defeated Honduras, 3-1, in a bright, wide-open match.

Jerren Nixon opened the scoring, beating two defenders during a 20-yard run before slipping the ball past Honduran goalkeeper Milton Flores in the 36th minute.

Nixon created the second goal four minutes later, sending a sharp crossing pass in from the left that fellow forward Stern John side-footed into the net from close range.

Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast early in the second half gave Honduras a penalty kick after Marvin Andrews was ruled to have tripped Wilmer Velasquez just inside the penalty area to the left of the net.

Replays showed no contact occurred.

Soccer justice was served when goalkeeper Clayton Ince, who made a couple of fine saves, blocked Velasquez’s penalty kick. Honduras did score in the 67th minute when a two-on-two break saw Carlos Pavon provide the pass that allowed Velasquez to make up for his penalty miss.

Trinidad and Tobago can clinch a place in the semifinals by defeating Mexico here on Wednesday night.