Honduras and Jamaica will do battle on Wednesday in World Cup 2022 qualifying and the fixture will see a meeting between the teams that occupy the bottom two positions in the table.
The hosts are in seventh position and have three points to their name, while Jamaica sit in eighth place after only collecting two points in their five games.
Match preview
Honduras are still searching for their first win of the qualifying campaign and, as a result, they face an uphill struggle to reach their fourth World Cup.
Their first two games of qualifying yielded two points courtesy of draws against Canada and El Salvador, but Honduras then suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to the USA.
Los Catrachos began the current international period with a goalless draw against Costa Rica, but in their most recent fixture, they suffered another disappointing defeat by losing 3-0 away to Mexico.
Honduras have only scored two goals in their first five games and if they are to replicate the playoff place they secured in their last World Cup qualifying campaign then they will need to start to find the net with more regularity.
The other concern for head coach Fabian Coito will be that their defence has also been leaky, which is demonstrated by the fact that Honduras have conceded eight goals in their five games.
Jamaica will need an immediate upturn in form if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
The Reggae Boyz started their campaign with two defeats; first, they lost 2-1 away to Mexico and they then lost 3-0 at home to Panama.
In their third qualifying game, Theodore Whitmore's side picked up their first point courtesy of Shamar Nicholson's equaliser, which guided Jamaica to a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica.
The current international period has seen Jamaica lose 2-0 away to the USA, but they did pick up a point in their last outing by drawing 0-0 with Canada.
Like their opponents, the Reggae Boyz have also only scored two goals and conceded eight, but they can take confidence from the fact that they emerged victorious in their last two meetings with Honduras.
- D
- D
- L
- D
- L
- L
- D
- D
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- D
Team News
Coito could bring Alberth Elis back into the starting lineup after the Bordeaux player was dropped for the game against Mexico, but he did feature as a substitute and is likely to start on Wednesday.
After changing to a five-at-the-back against Mexico, Honduras are likely to revert to a more familiar back four for the Jamaica clash.
The hosts will have to do without Maynor Figueroa, who was sent off in their last outing, and as a result of Figueroa's suspension, Denil Maldonado will partner Marcelo Pereira in the centre of defence.
Kemar Roofe came in to start the last game for Jamaica and the Rangers forward is likely to lead the line once again on Wednesday.
Bournemouth's Jamal Lowe dropped to the bench against Canada, but he could return to the starting lineup in place of Junior Flemmings.
Whitmore is also likely to bring Damion Lowe into the starting lineup to partner Adrian Mariappa in the centre of defence.
Honduras possible starting lineup:
L. Lopez; Najar, Maldonado, Pereira, Rodriguez; Arriaga, A. Lopez, Flores; Elis, Rivas, Moya
Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Blake; Fisher, D. Lowe, Mariappa, Lawrence; Decordova-Reid, Grant, Watson, Lowe; Roofe, Nicholson
We say: Honduras 1-2 Jamaica
Both sides are desperate for a win that would keep any realistic hope of World Cup qualification alive and it is likely to be a close contest, but we think Jamaica may have enough quality to collect the three points.
Top tip
body check tags ::
