Mexico vs Honduras

Mexico and Honduras are set to trade tackles at the State Farm Stadium in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals.

Following an underwhelming scoreless draw with Trinidad & Tobago in their Gold Cup opener, Mexico outscored Guatemala and El Salvador by an aggregate score of 4-0 to finish top of Group A. Warm favorites to reach the semi-finals, the Mexicans have successfully negotiated each of their last seven Gold Cup quarter-final ties. Going back to 1991, ‘El Tri’ have suffered just one loss in their six Gold Cup meetings with Honduras (W3, D2). Additionally, they have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last eight H2H encounters in all competitions (W4, D3, L1), barring a 3-2 away defeat in a World Cup qualifier back in October 2017. Gerardo Martino’s men have put together six internationals without losing (W4, D2) since going down to the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League final via penalties.

Meanwhile, Honduras put 3+ goals past both Grenada and Panama across their opening two group stage fixtures (W2) before succumbing to a 2-0 loss to Qatar on Matchday 3. Actually, that defeat to Qatar brought Honduras’ three-game winning streak in all competitions to a halt, a sequence that saw them score 2+ goals on each occasion. Getting off the mark first could be of the essence here, considering that each of Honduras’ last nine internationals won/lost saw the victor benefit from breaking the deadlock. After advancing to the Gold Cup quarter-finals for the seventh time in 11 tournament appearances in the 21st century, ‘Los Catrachos’ are looking to break into the semi-finals for the first time since 2013. Worryingly, though, Honduras’ last appearance in the Gold Cup quarter-finals saw them bow out precisely to Mexico.