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Luis Palma was the great hero of the Honduran victory over Mexico in San Pedro Sula. The Celtic attacker scored a double at home to give the Catrachos the advantage in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League. Those led by Reinaldo Rueda already know what it is like to be in this situation.
A year ago, Honduras found itself with the same advantage over Mexico, but they allowed a comeback at the Azteca Stadium, which left them out of the Final Four. For this occasion, Palma does not want to make the same mistakes, and knows what the H has to do in the Nemesio Diez.
“It was very important (the victory), we know that Tuesday’s game is more important. It is a result that fills us with confidence. We will have the same proposal, we will seek to win this match. We know that we know that it is Mexico, it will have your support like we do at home,” he commented at a press conference.
“Yes We know what happened last time and I’m not talking about extra-football issues.we have to make our result. We know that if we score a goal they are obliged to score 4, we are focused on winning”.
Honduras dreams of the World Cup
If Honduras scores in Toluca, Mexico would be forced to score four due to the away goal rule. Palma is aware of the situation, and knows that his team must capitalize on the advantage they built at home, but without becoming overconfident. In addition to the Final Four of the Nations League, the Celtic attacker is excited by the recent level of his national team and hopes to be able qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“In the group everything changes, it is not the same Mexico as the last time. We have three days to take advantage of what we did at home and the mistakes take advantage of what they did”
“We are going to face the game with the greatest responsibility and look for a place in the semifinals. Honduras is going from less to more, achieving a place in the World Cup is also our goal“.
The pressure is on Mexico
Palma assured that Honduras fulfilled what it had to do at home, and that they are not the ones who have the pressure in the second leg. With a two-goal deficit, Mexico is the one that will have to deal with the burden of having to turn the result around in front of its fans..
“We are not going to feel pressure, we felt that yesterday because we were localswe had to win because we gave a coup of authority in Tegucigalpa and we had to give it in San Pedro Sula, as you say, San Pedro is the house of the H. In Toluca, those who are going to feel pressure are Mexico”.
