Honduras salvage Welcome draw
Striker spares Hondurans blushes
Last Updated: May 27, 2010 9:36pm
De Leon: Opened the scoring
World Cup minnows Honduras salvaged a 2-2 draw with Belarus in a friendly on Thursday evening as they prepared for their first appearance at the finals since 1982.
The unfancied Hondurans, who are among the longest odds to win the tournament, played the game in Austria as they try to acclimatise to the altitude of where they will play in South Africa.
They took the lead in the game through Torino midfielder Julio de Leon, but Belarus, who finished fourth in their qualifying group behind England, pegged them back in the 57th minute and took the lead two minutes later to stun the Hondurans with both goals coming from Anton Putilo.
Georgie Welcome proved to be the hero for the Central Americans, as he equalised just over ten minutes later to level matters and avoid what would have been a poor start to their World cup preparations
With Chile, Switzerland and the much fancied Spanish to come in Group H, the Hondurans will be hoping for much improved performances against Azerbaijan and Romania in their remaining friendlies if they are to have any realistic chance of making it through the group stage.
