MX23RW : Saturday, July 24 09:44:16| >> :120:61570:61570:
Jul 25, 2021 at 9am UK at Kashima Soccer Stadium
New Zealand U23sNew Zealand Under-23s
vs.
Honduras U23sHonduras Under-23s

Preview: New Zealand Under-23s vs. Honduras Under-23s - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Olympic Games Men's Football clash between New Zealand Under-23s and Honduras Under-23s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

New Zealand Under-23s take on Honduras Under-23s in Group B of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Sunday, with the CONCACAF side needing to avoid defeat after losing to Romania on Thursday.

New Zealand, meanwhile, can secure their progression to the knockout stages with a victory after beating South Korea in their opening game.


Match preview

Chris Wood of New Zealand celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on July 22, 2021© Reuters

Indeed, competing in only their third Olympics in football, New Zealand are aiming to progress from the group stage for the first time in their history.

West Ham United defender Winston Reid, who is captaining this team as one of their three over-age players, made a superb goal-line clearance in the second half to keep the scoreline level against South Korea, who dominated the majority of the match.

Moments later, though, Burnley striker Chris Wood struck from around the penalty spot to provide New Zealand with a valuable lead against the run of play in the 70th minute, with their Asian opponents unable to find an equaliser.

As such, another win against Honduras on Sunday will see Danny Hay's side go a step further than ever before in this competition with a game to spare.

Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez makes a save in penalty shoutout on June 7, 2021© Reuters

Honduras, meanwhile, have a proud record at the Olympics in football, having qualified for four of the previous five.

They reached the quarter-finals in London in 2012 before finishing fourth at the last Olympics in Brazil, so Thursday's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Romania would have hit the nation very hard indeed.

Perhaps what made the loss all the more painful was the manner in which it came about, with Andrei Ciobanu's in-swinging corner causing havoc in first-half injury time.

At first, it looked like Romania's number ten's corner had gone all the way in, but on second viewing it became clear that Elvin Oliva's glancing header had diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Miguel Falero's side must avoid defeat against New Zealand on Sunday, otherwise they will crash out of the group stage for the first time since 2008 in Beijing.

New Zealand Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • W

Honduras Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • L



Team News

Honduras midfielder Rigoberto Rivas (11) is taken off on a stretcher in the second half against the United States during the semifinals of the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League soccer series at Empower Field at Mile High on June 4, 2021© Reuters

New Zealand are unlikely to disrupt a winning formula for Sunday's game.

Much of their hopes will hinge on the experience and quality of Reid and Wood once again, with the pair boasting 83 senior caps between them.

Honduras, however, could make a few changes as they look to improve their performance and result.

Brayan Moya, who is one of two over-age players in the squad, is likely to start in midfield having been an unused substitute on Thursday.

Oliva could be taken out of the firing line, too, having been booked before scoring his own goal in a disappointing individual performance against Romania.

New Zealand Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Woud; Ingham, Pijnaker, Reid, Cacace; Stensness, Bell, Lewis, Just; McCowatt, Wood

Honduras Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Guity; Melendez, Maldonado, Garcia, Decas; Rivas, Alvarez, Moya, Rodriguez; Martinez, Benguche


SM words green background

We say: New Zealand Under-23s 0-0 Honduras Under-23s

We are struggling to see many clear-cut chances being created in this match, with both sides adopting safety-first approaches.

However, the pressure is on Honduras to take their game to their opponents, but we can see New Zealand remaining resolute and gaining a positive result to take a step closer to progression.






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Who will win Sunday's Olympic Games Men's Football clash between New Zealand U23s and Honduras U23s?

New Zealand Under-23s
Draw
Honduras Under-23s
New Zealand Under-23s
66.7%
Draw
33.3%
Honduras Under-23s
0.0%
3
Collect / Create New Data
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Winston Reid celebrates scoring for West Ham against Manchester United on May 10, 2016
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina2013
Ecuador flagEcuador1001
IranIran1001
Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea1001
BelgiumBelgium0101
14  Great BritainGreat Britain0000
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Saturday's key events


ROWING
· Two-time Olympic gold medallist and comeback queen Helen Glover teams up with Polly Swan in the heats of the women's pair (12.30am-4.30am)

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
· Two-time Rio gold medallist Max Whitlock leads Team GB's charge in the men's qualification, while Rhys McClenaghan flies the flag for Ireland (2am-2pm)

SHOOTING
· The first gold medal of the Games will be awarded in the Air Rifle women's final (from 2.45am)

CYCLING
· The men's road race should be a wide-open thriller, with Team GB among those going for gold (3am-10am)

TENNIS
· Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are among the names in action on the opening day of tennis (from 3am)

SWIMMING
· Adam Peaty and many others get their Olympics campaigns underway on the opening day of swimming (11am-12.50pm)

FOOTBALL
· Team GB's women try to make it two wins from two against hosts Japan (11.30am)
· Netherlands and Brazil, who scored 15 goals between them on matchday one, face off (12pm)
· World champions USA look to bounce back from a shock opening defeat against New Zealand (12.30pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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Olympic Games Women's Football
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Major League Soccer
Brasileiro
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
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