Honduras beats Haiti 1-0 in Gold Cup

2009-07-05 05:19:01 -

SEATTLE (AP) - Carlo Costly headed goal in the 76th minute was enough for Honduras to edge Haiti 1-0 on Saturday in their group opener at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Walter Martinez took a freekick from the left of the penalty area. He drove it into the box, and Costly rose to flick his header well beyond the reach of Haiti goalkeeper Jean Dominique Zephrin.
Costly, who played at Birmingham City last season on loan from Poland's Belchatow, almost made it two just four minutes later, but his 35-yard shot toward an open net was cleared off the line by Haiti's Pierre Richard Bruny.
Haiti had the run of play during the early part of the game and had two near-misses. Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober dived to grab the ball off the foot of Fabrice Noel directly in front of the post before Noel could get off a shot in the 19th minute. Noel then went inches wide of the left post on a 25-yard shot in the 32nd minute.
Honduras had two excellent scoring chances in the final eight minutes of the half. A shot by Martinez from 10 yards was saved. In the final seconds before the first-half whistle, Nery Medina's 30-yard shot was heading toward the upper left corner before Zephrin leaped to knock it away.
Honduras will take on the United States next Wednesday in Washington, D.C., in the second of its three Group B games. Haiti will play Grenada, also next Wednesday in Washington.