Honduras vs. USMNT: Live score, updates, highlights from CONCACAF World Cup qualifier

The U.S. men’s national team is desperate for a win to close out its first three qualifying matches on a positive note. The team and head coach Gregg Berhalter made it clear they are not happy with the two draws from the first two matches, and a win in Honduras will give the young squad a spring in its step again ahead of the next three contests on tap in October.

San Pedro Sula has historically been a tough venue for the USMNT. The Americans came away with a draw and a loss in their last two qualifying visits against a Honduran side that is looking to return to the World Cup finals after appearances in 2010 and 2014. Both Honduras and the U.S. failed to make it to the 2018 edition in Russia.

The two nations are even on two points in CONCACAF qualifying after two matches, but Honduras will feel better about its two draws since they both came away from home in Canada and El Salvador. The USMNT started out with a 0-0 draw in El Salvador, but it was held by Canada 1-1 at home in its last outing.

MORE: CONCACAF World Cup qualifying results & standings

There are a total of eight teams involved in CONCACAF regional qualifying, and each will play a total of 14 matches. The top three teams in the CONCACAF octagonal will advance to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The fourth-place team will play in an intercontinental playoff with a ticket to Qatar on the line.

Sporting News is following the event live and providing scoring updates, commentary and highlights throughout the night.

Honduras vs. USMNT live score

Goals:
HON – Brayan Moya (Diego Rodriguez) – 27th min.

(All times Eastern)

MORE: Why there’s no VAR in CONCACAF qualifying

Halftime: Honduras 1, USA 0

Halftime: After what looked like a promising start, the USA lost any handle it had on the game and it was played on Honduras’s terms. The Catrachos had clear ideas and movements in transition and they caught the U.S. defense in shambles on their goal. The lead gave Honduras more confidence and the home side simply looks more comfortable. The U.S. was increasingly disjointed as the minutes went by with big gaps between the various sectors of the field. Head coach Gregg Berhalter has work to do at halftime. The system change and personnel just doesn’t look right.

47th+ min.: George Bello goes down in the Honduras box and it looks like he was bumped from behind but the referee won’t get a second look at it (no VAR in CONCACAF qualifying).

45th min.: Three minutes of stoppage time. The U.S. could really use the halftime break to regroup. It’s looking really disjointed since the Honduras goal.

40th min.: A long injury delay for Honduras midfielder Kervin Arriaga to come off the field on a stretcher after a midfield collision with Kellyn Acosta. Play finally resumes and Arriaga is eventually back on. Honduras is going to milk those challenges and not let the USA get into any rhythm.

33rd min.: Honduras showing some confidence. A shot by Jonathan Rubio goes wide of Matt Turner’s goal.

27th min.: Honduras goal! Cross by Diego Rodriguez and Brayan Moya is all alone in the box and heads home off the bounce past Matt Turner. Where was John Brooks? He stepped up to challenge and George Bello didn’t cover for him. Not a good defensive moment for the USA.

24th min.: Another U.S. chance! George Bello crosses into the Honduras box and Josh Sargent heads down to Ricardo Pepi, who turns on the ball but doesn’t get good contact on it and it finishes high.

19th min.: Chance for the USA! Kellyn Acosta picks out a cross in the box, but Christian Pulisic can’t quite connect well enough on the header. Good idea from Acosta. The USA looks like it’s not having many issues creating attacks.

16th min.: After stopping another U.S. attack, Honduras transitions quickly: Kervin Arriaga feeds Brayan Moya in the U.S. box and Moya’s shot hits the side netting.

11th min.: Tyler Adams with a long vertical ball forward to Christian Pulisic and the Honduras ‘keeper comes out and clatters into his own player to clear.

9th min.: A Honduras cross goes across the front of the U.S. goal, but there were no players to take advantage. First real danger averted by the Americans.

4th min.: Behind-the-back pass by Gregg Berhalter:

3rd min.: Another U.S. chance! Josh Sargent was breaking into the left side of the Honduras penalty area and he had Tyler Adams all alone on the other side of the box, but he couldn’t get the ball to him. Honduras escapes.

1st min.: USMNT on the front foot after 18 seconds! George Bello fires a blast that misses the mark. USA’s intentions are clear.

10:19 p.m.: As we wait for the game to start, this is a video that USMNT fans will want to watch in light of the Weston McKennie suspension and dismissal:

10:13 p.m.: A familiar sound is also being brought back in San Pedro Sula:

9:35 p.m.: FC Dallas 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi will have people talking tonight as he makes his debut:

USA vs. Honduras: Starting lineups

The USMNT has a list of players who will miss the match, including a handful of stars such as  Gio Reyna (hamstring), Sergino Dest (ankle) and Weston McKennie (team violation). It means that Christian Pulisic will have an even bigger bullseye on his back than usual. 

MORE: Why Weston McKennie is not playing for the USMNT

Berhalter goes with a 3-4-3 formation with James Sands in midfield with Kellyn Acosta . George Bello (left) and Tyler Adams  (right) will serve as the two wingbacks and 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi makes his first start for the USMNT at center forward.

USMNT starting lineup (3-4-3, left to right):  1-Matt Turner-GK — 15-Mark McKenzie  6-John Brooks, 12-Miles Robinson — 21-George Bello, 23-Kellyn Acosta, 16-James Sands, 4-Tyler Adams — 9-Josh Sargent, 14-Ricardo Pepi, 10-Christian Pulisic

USMNT subs (12): 18-Ethan Horvath-GK, 8-Sean Johnson-GK, 5-Antonee Robinson, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 13-Tim Ream, 22-DeAndre Yedlin, 17-Sebastian Lletget, 2-Jackson Yueill, 7-Cristian Roldan, 20-Konrad de la Fuente, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 19-Jordan Pefok

Honduras head coach Fabian Coito made nine changes to his starting lineup from the first match against Canada to the second against El Salvador, presumably looking to rest players for the home game against the U.S. One major absence is playmaker  Alex Lopez , who scored the Catrachos’ only goal so far on a penalty kick against Canada. He injured himself on that penalty and has already rejoined his club team to begin his recovery.

Honduras starting lineup (4-4-2, left to right): 22-Luis Lopez — 23-Diego Rodriguez, 3-Maynor Figueroa, 4-Marcelo Pereira, 17-Andy Najar — 21-Jonathan Rubio Toro, 20-Deybi Flores, 15-Kervin Arriaga, 7-Carlos Pineda — 13-Brayan Moya, 9-Antony “Choco” Lozano

Honduras subs (12): 1-Edrick Menjivar-GK, 18-Marlon Licona-GK, 2-Felix Crisanto, 5-Danilo Acosta, 16-Johnny Leveron, 19-Jose Garcia, 6-Bryan Acosta, 8-Edwin Rodriguez 14-Boniek Garcia, 10-Rigoberto Rivas, 11-Eddie Hernandez, 12-Romell Quioto

How to watch Honduras vs. USA

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 8
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Spanish-language TV: Telemundo, Universo
• Stream: fuboTV ,   Paramount+

The match will be broadcast on Telemundo and Universo, and both of those channels can be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial) . Paramount+ also will carry the match.

The event will be held at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, which will be sold out at 50 percent capacity (18,000 fans).