World Cup Qualifying Preview: Honduras - Mexico

By Zac Lee Rigg | Goal.com – Wed, Mar 20, 2013 10:11 PM EDT

• World Cup Qualifying Preview: Honduras - Mexico

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Honduras (4-4-2): Valladares; Figueroa, Bernardez, Juan Carlos Garcia, Izaguirre; Martinez, Espinoza, Garrido, Boniek Garcia; Bengtson, Costly.

ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Noel Valladares  (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Kevin Hernández (Real España)

DEFENDERS: Arnold Peralta (Cd Vida), Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Juan Carlos García (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Juan Pablo Montes (Platense), Osman Chavez (Wisla Cracovia)

MIDFIELDERS: Luis Garrido (Estrella Roja), Roger Espinoza (Wigan), Jorge Claros (Hibernian), Wilmer Fuentes (Marathon), Oscar Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Byron Mendez (Platense), Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders), Carlos Discua (Motagua)

FORWARDS: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Carlo Costly (Veria), Roger Rojas (Olimpia), Jerry Palacios (Liga Deportiva Alajuelense)

Mexico (4-2-3-1): Corona; Torres Nilo, Rodriguez, Moreno, Meza; Salcido, Zavala; Guardado, dos Santos, Aquino; Hernandez.

ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)

DEFENDERS: Severo Meza (Monterrey), Jonny Magallón (León), Francisco Javier Rodríguez (América), Héctor Moreno (Espanyol), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Diego Reyes (América), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Carlos Salcido (Tigres)

MIDFIELDERS: Jesús Zavala (Monterrey), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jesús Molina (América), Héctor Herrera (Pachuca), Javier Aquino (Villarreal), Andrés Guardado (Valencia), Ángel Reyna (Pachuca)

FORWARDS: Giovani dos Santos (Mallorca), Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna), Javier Hernández (Manchester United), Omar Bravo (Atlas), Raúl Jiménez (América)

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the second matchday of the Hexagonal. Mexico slumped to a draw against Jamaica at Azteca in February's CONCACAF World Cup qualifier. Honduras came from behind to beat the United States 2-1.

• Mexico has not won in Honduras for nearly two decades, last winning there on May 1993.

• El Tri has yet to lose a game in the 2014 qualification cycle. El Tri outscored its opponents 15-2 in the semifinal group stage before the Jamaica draw.

• Estadio Olímpico in San Pedro Sula is already sold out for the match, with a capacity of 37,000 expected.

• Mexico next hosts the United States in Azteca. Honduras will travel to Panama on March 26 for the next Hex match.