Mexico Wins in Eriksson's First Match as Coach
 Associated Press
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| | Guatemala's Jose Contreras, left, fights for the ball with Pablo Maestroeni during a World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer game in Guatemala City. (Rodrigo Abd/AP) | | |
Mexico City - Pavel Pardo smashed in two long-range shots in three minutes for Mexico's 2-1 comeback win over Honduras in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday.
A free kick from Julio Cesar Leon, nicknamed "Rambo," which bounced in off the crossbar gave Honduras a stunning start in the 35th minute.
But Mexico's incessant attacks paid off with Pardo's rapid-fire goals in the 73rd and 76th.
The Stuttgart midfielder's first cannon shot from outside the area whistled passed Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares, then his free kick from the left wing flew past the back four and into the right corner of the net.
"We won this game fighting," Pardo said. "But we still have to play better if we want to go all the way."
Pardo's three minutes of glory made up for a match in which Mexico dominated play but struggled to find its scoring touch, while Honduras threatened with counterattacks.
"The team suffered but they played with a lot of will in front of an amazing public," said Eriksson, who managed the England squad for six years.
In the first minute, Mexico's Andres Guardado passed to Carlos Vela running into the area, but Vela knocked a clumsy wide ball.
In the sixth, Guardado was in the center of the action again, lofting a free kick to Carlos Salcido in the area, but it was snatched by an aggressive Valladares.
Mexico strikers placed five more attempts on goal in the first half but all fell short.
The most seat-raising moment came in the 24th when Fernando Arce dribbled into the area and his attempt bounce off a post back onto the field.
Honduras created the goal on its first effective attack on the break, which culminated in Brazilian-born Leandro Augusto bringing down Honduras' David Suazo just outside the area.
Honduras continued to look dangerous again in the second half, with Victor Bernardez whacking in a second free kick which was narrowly deflected by a diving Oswaldo Sanchez in the 60th.
However, after Mexico's goals their attacks lost structure and players lost composure, and Maynor Figueroa was ejected in the 77th for arguing with the referee.
On Sept. 6, Mexico visits Jamaica, which drew Canada 1-1. Honduras travels to Canada.
Lineups:
Mexico: Oswaldo Sanchez, Pavel Pardo, Ricardo Osorio, Jonny Magallon, Leandro Augusto , Fernando Arce (Cuahtemoc Blanco, 70), Andres Guardado, Carlos Salcido, Giovani Dos Santos (Guillermo Franco, 56), Carlos Vela (Omar Bravo 61) Rafael Marquez.
Honduras: Noel Valladares, Sergio Mendoza, Emilio Izaguirre, Maynor Figueroa, Victor Bernardez, Julio Cesar Leon (Carlo Costly, 86), Wilson Palacios, Danilo Turcios (Ivan Guerrero, 69), Amado Guevara, Edgard Alvarez (Boniek Garcia 80), David Suazo. |
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Americas & Beyond | August 2008 
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