Honduras need staying power to go for gold - coach

HOUSTON, Texas, May 30 (Reuters) - Honduras need to play like they did for the first hour of their 2-2 friendly draw against El Salvador if they wish to make an impact at next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, coach Luis Suarez said on Monday.

“They were 60 minutes to dream big with a team that showed good speed in moving from defence to attack and solid defence,” Colombian Suarez said the day after his debut with the team at Houston’s Robertson stadium.

“I’m looking at the future with the calm and hope I took from the way the team played. It was a good tactical plan and in that respect I think we’re good,” he was quoted as saying by the Honduran daily La Prensa (www.laprensa.hn).

Honduras, who went to their second World Cup finals in South Africa last year, raced into a 2-0 lead early in the second half by virtue of a Carlo Costly header just before the break and a penalty converted by fellow striker Jerry Bengtson.
However, a raft of substitutions unsettled the side and Honduras conceded two goals in four minutes when Rodolfo Zelaya beat goalkeeper Noel Valladares from outside the box in the 73rd and Rudis Corrales equalised soon after.
“The last 30 minutes are there to learn from our mistakes,” said Suarez, who succeeded compatriot Reinaldo Rueda, the man who took Honduras to the World Cup last year but has since moved on to Ecuador.
Honduras are in Group B with Guatemala, Jamaica and Grenada in the Gold Cup in the United States starting next Sunday.

El Salvador are in Group A with holders Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba.