Hirving Lozano, Oswaldo Alanis score as Mexico eases past Honduras

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:43 am

Mexico players celebrate after scoring a goal against Honduras in World Cup qualifying.
Mexico players celebrate after scoring a goal against Honduras in World Cup qualifying.
AP Images

Mexico players celebrate after scoring a goal against Honduras in World Cup qualifying.
Mexico players celebrate after scoring a goal against Honduras in World Cup qualifying.
AP Images

Mexico maintained its stranglehold on the top of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying table with an easy 3-0 win against Honduras in Mexico City on Thursday night.

After a flurry of first-half chances went begging, Mexico finally broke through from a set piece in the 34th minute when Oswaldo Alanis' glancing header caught goalkeeper Donis Escober flat-footed.

Despite dominating possession and shots on goal, Mexico only took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.

Jesus Corona spurned two golden opportunities early in the second half, beating his defender to get in on goal only to lose it to Escober with his final touch, then passing up a shot minutes later to instead cross in front of an empty net.

Mexico's second came in the 63rd minute when Hector Herrera played a perfect ball to Hirving Lozano over the top of the Honduras defense, which the Pachuca winger then collected and dribbled around Escober to finish into an empty net.

With the floodgates open, Raul Jimenez was next to get on the scoresheet. The 26-year-old forward was played in on goal with a lovely through ball that he chipped over Escober to make it 3-0.

The win keeps Mexico atop the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying table on 13 points ahead of a key match versus the United States on June 11 in Estadio Azteca.