Elis rescues dramatic draw in final seconds for Honduras | OneFootball

GLENDALE, Arizona – Alberth Elis scored in the final seconds to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw for Honduras against Qatar in Group B action of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup on Thursday evening at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

It was the first ever Gold Cup goal for the star Honduran striker and it could not have come at a better time to help keep the Catrachos in the mix for a knockout round berth.

Both teams came out looking to strike early and a goal would arrive in the 7’ when some miscommunication from the Honduran defense allowed Mostafa Mashal to deliver a cross from the left that was headed into net by the charging Alabdulla for a 1-0 Qatar lead.

Honduras tried to pick the lock of the Qatari defense, but it was tough sledding the rest of the first 45 minutes.

The Catrachos continued to try to open things up to start the second half and a probing long-range strike from Alberth Elis in the 49’ registered as the closest look of the night up to that point.

Another big chance for Honduras came in the 58’ after an attempted clearance from the Qatari defense, with Jerry Bengtson diving toward goal only to see his header bounce over the crossbar.

As Honduras committed more numbers forward in search of the trying goal, they also left themselves more vulnerable to a counterattack and one such instance led to a chance for Yusuf Abdurisag, but Honduras GK Edrick Menjivar snuffed out the chance.

Another chance came on a sizzling right-footed strike from Jose Pinto in the 87’ that appeared goalward, but Barsham soared to his left to make the save.

Just when it looked like Qatar would pocket the three points, Pinto flighted in a pass that was headed down by Rubilio Castillo, meeting the arriving foot of Elis who redirected into net on the last kick of the game for a 1-1 final.