E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - His miss in the eighth minute appeared to be costly, especially after Amado Guevara hit the post with a first-half penalty kick and Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored from the spot later in the first half.
But Carlos Costly kept Honduras alive in the Gold Cup, scoring two goals in the second half, including the winner in the first minute of stoppage time to lift Honduras to a stunning upset over tournament favorite Mexico, 2-1, Sunday at Giants Stadium.
Costly scored the equalizer on the hour mark. Accepting Guevara's pass, Costly took a touch to the left of Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and coolly placed the ball into the side netting as Giants Stadium erupted. The forward from GKS Belchatow in Poland then provided the dramatic winner, powerfully heading Emilio Izaguirre's cross past Sanchez as the massive crowd at Giants Stadium erupted.
A win would have booked Mexico's ticket into the quarterfinals and the Tricolores appeared poised to deliver the three points at the Meadowlands, putting its 'A' team on the field against Honduras after resting many of its regulars in a 2-1 Group C opening win over Cuba Friday night.
But it was a shaky start for Mexico as Costa Rican referee Walter Quezada awarded Honduras a penalty kick on 13 minutes, ruling Sanchez tripped Carlos Pavon, as the Honduran captain attempted to round the keeper inside the box.
Mexico argued vehemently against the call, claiming Sanchez, who was booked on the play, grabbed the ball before the contact. But it mattered little a minute later when Guevera, who was nearly perfect from the penalty spot when he played for the New York-based Major League Soccer club, put the ball off the post to Sanchez's right.
Mexico was awarded a penalty in the 28th minute when Izaguirre chopped down Alberto Medina inside the right edge of the 18-yard box. Blanco, who made his run from the top of the arc, beat Honduran keeper Orlin Vallecillo with a hard shot down the middle to give Mexico a 1-0 lead.
Earlier, Vallecillo spilled a Blanco free kick and Jose Magallon put the rebound wide of the target. Blanco, who will play for the Chicago Fire as one of MLS' designated players, also chipped the ball wide of Vallecillo.
Honduras nearly leveled just after halftime when Maynor Figueroa headed Guevara's free kick on target, but Sanchez, standing on the line, slapped at the shot with his right hand before grabbing the ball.
Blanco's day was over in the 49th minute, sent off with a straight red card for elbowing Honduran defender Jorge Samuel Caballeros in the stomach as they stood at the near post before a Mexican corner kick.
Honduras, which played a man down for the final 66 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Panama Friday night, seemed invigorated by the red card and attacked Mexico after playing on its heels for much of the first half. In the 58th minute, Pavon's first-time volley in front of goal just missed the net and two minutes later Costly struck for the first of two goals in the final half hour.
After missing a chance to advance Sunday, Mexico will need to get a result against Panama Wednesday in Houston while Honduras needs to get three points from Cuba to stay alive, as well. The pressure, though, is squarely on four-time Gold Cup champions Mexico and first-year coach Hugo Sanchez. In the past week, the Tricolores lost to Paraguay in a friendly in Mexico City - which was only El Tri's second loss at Azteca since 1981.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
