The Mexico U-23s advanced to the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying semifinals thanks to another goal from Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres on Wednesday night.
Mexico took an early lead after Honduras' Allans Vargas was shown a red card in just the second minute. Raul Lopez took the ensuing free kick from 20 yards out and went under the jumping Honduras wall to find the back of the net. Honduras equalized despite the numbers disadvantage in the 59th minute, but Torres came up with the winning goal for Mexico five minutes later.
Victor Guzman worked down the right flank and served a low cross into the box for Torres. The striker took a touch away from his defender, then beat the goalkeeper with a low strike to the far post. It was his second goal of the tournament.
#CaminoARio2016 GOL de México anotado por Erick Torres. #MEX 2-1 #HONhttp://t.co/5nmhgNLKKV
— NBC Deportes (@NBCDeportes) October 8, 2015"Without a doubt, we've been improving since the very first game," Torres told the Associated Press through a translator. "We still have a lot to improve and all the mistakes we've made, we're planning not to repeat them again. And everything we've done well? Continue to do that to be able to win.
"We have a game against Canada now. We're going to go out and win, no matter what."
With the win, Mexico—the tournament's defending champions—advance as Groub B winners to face Canada in the semifinals. Their match is to be playing on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. CT (Telemundo). The winner of that matchup will earn a spot in the 2016 Olympics and face the winner of the U.S. vs. Honduras match in the tournament final. The loser will play the loser of the other semifinal match for the right to play Colombia in a playoff for the final Olympic spot.
