Honduras vs Australia
Honduras and Australia meet in the intercontinental playoff this week, and both teams will look to draw first blood to take their World Cup destiny into their own hands.
Betting websites back Honduras to win at San Pedro Sula, the same place where they kept their dreams alive with a thrilling win against Mexico last month. However, make no mistake; Australia are road warriors and are more than capable of upsetting the betting odds, especially in crucial football games like this.
Both nations received a boost after FIFA erased all their yellow cards from earlier qualifiers, thereby allowing them to field their best players available with the possibility of having suspensions in the second leg all but gone.
Honduras will fancy their chances, with the likes of Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis peaking just at the right time. The two were crucial for the Catrachos win over Mexico, with Quioto even scoring the game-winner after Honduras fell behind twice.
It should also benefit them that Australia will be without the suspended midfield sparkplugs Mathew Leckie and Mark Milligan as well as the injured Robbie Kruse. Key attacker Tim Cahill is also doubtful to play, making the job look a lot easier for the home team.
Nonetheless, Honduras can’t let their guard down. Not with Socceroos star Aaron Mooy ready to start and in great shape after some fantastic performances with Premier League club Huddersfield Town.
Skipper Mile Jedinak also offers the Australians an extra boost on the defensive end, an area where Ange Postecoglou will likely focus to lessen the damage the Hondurans can inflict.
Honduras haven’t lost at home in their last four qualifying matches, averaging at least two goals in that span. Australia, meanwhile, haven’t won in their past five road qualifiers, though they did manage to draw four of those games.
Away goals are crucial in times like this, but I think Australia will prioritise limiting Honduras’ scoring to try and win it in the second leg at Sydney. Despite that, however, I believe Jorge Luis Pinto’s men have too much depth to lose. With that said, Honduras Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11 and Goals Under 2.25 @ 1.76 are the best punts to make.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
