Canadian coach Hart: Honduras a “wounded animal”

Stephen Hart

After coming off a big win in Cuba under tough conditions – intense Havana heat and a horribly poor pitch – Canada’s men’s team returned home to familiar surroundings sitting in a good position in its group of World Cup qualifiers.

On Tuesday night, the Canadians will face its next challenge when Honduras visits BMO Field after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Panama at home. The result came as a shock to many but Canadian coach Stephen Hart said the match was not as one-sided as the score suggests — and that Honduras were unlucky to not finish its chances. He expects a determined but not a desperate opposition.

“They’re a wounded animal but, hey, it’s one game,” said Hart. “They lost one-game, OK it’s a home game, but I think Honduras has too much experience to be desperate. They’re going to come in here thinking it’s only Canada and they can get a result here.”

Canada has not played the Central American team since a friendly in Montreal two years ago and came away with a 2-1 win in Montreal, but had lost the previous three meaningful matches before that – a 1-0 loss in the 2009 Gold Cup and both matches during the last World Cup qualifiers in 2008 by an aggregate score of 3-1.

Although the conditions will be much better at BMO Field – barring a thunderstorm that is being forecasted – Honduras presents different challenges from the Cubans. Stephen Hart knows the opposition will be very technical and athletic and expects an aerial attack through big six-foot-two forward Carlos Costly.

“They’re a very good team, there’s no doubt about it,” said Hart. “They have good quality, a lot of experience in key positions and they will be difficult tomorrow.

“They have good wide play and of course Costly up front, he’s a big man and a handful, especially crosses in the air. We’re going to try to have to eliminate the crosses as much as possible and deal with him, of course, when the crosses do come in.”

With a win Canada can put itself in a great position to qualify for the Hex – the last and final round of qualifying a spot in the World Cup – by going up six points on the Central Americans.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” said midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. “It’s very rare that you see Honduras lose at home so we know they’re going to come in here anxious to walk away with three points so we’re going to have to do what we can to deny them that, but not only deny them that but six points for ourselves.

“And if we can accomplish six points right now in the first two games I think we’re a huge step ahead of the eight ball so that’s the focus right now. But we have to come with the right mentality. We have to set the tone, set the intensity and start from the first whistle and for the full 90 minutes.”

Canada will likely use the same line up with the only change coming in goal. Milan Borjan played well against Cuba after coming in the second half for Lars Hirschfeld, who received a straight red for handling the ball out of the box.

“I got confidence from my teammates and the coaches so I’m pretty excited about the match,” said Borjan who expects Honduras to be motivated on Tuesday. “They’re going to come hard on us but we’re waiting and we’re going to come hard on them too because we’re playing on our home field.”

Hart said he has no injury concerns with his squad and that Atiba Hutchinson could see more playing time after he came on as a substitute in Havana. Hart put on Hutchinson to stabilize and settle down the team in the second half and to make the Cubans run.

The midfielder aggravated a knee injury in training camp to the same knee he injured playing with the national team at last year’s Gold Cup and again during a World Cup qualifier last September. Hutchinson felt good to get in some playing time and well enough that he is hopeful to earn a start against Honduras.