July 26, 2012 12:00 PM BSTHampden Park — GlasgowReferee: P. Kralovec
Honduras 2-2 Morocco: Delicious Labyad lob earns a point as 10-man Moroccans fight back in Olympics opener
Pim Verbeek’s side had to play the final 20 minutes at Hampden Park with 10 men after left-back Zakarya Bergdich was sent off for inexplicably kicking out at Mario Martinez
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Morocco came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw againstHonduras in Thursday’s men’s Olympic Games Group D opener.
Pim Verbeek’s charges took the lead six minutes before half-time when Abdelaziz Barrada thundered in a superb volley, only to see their opponents draw level from close range 10 minutes after the break through Jerry Bengtson before sending his side into the lead from the penalty spot shortly afterwards.
However, the advantage lasted just two minutes when highly rated Zakaria Labyad dinked the ball over the advancing Jose Mendoza, only for Morocco to end the game a man down when left-back Zakarya Bergdich was given his marching orders in the 71st minute for kicking out at Mario Martinez.
Morocco dominated the opening exchanges and should have taken the lead through forward Noureddine Amrabat early on, only for a last-ditch block from Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa to keep the danger at bay.
Verbeek did not have to wait too long for the breakthrough, though, as a superb volley fromBarrada put them 1-0 up.
And Honduras almost equalised immediately when Andy Najar found himself inside the box with the ball at his feet but he could only fire high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
Morocco carried their slender advantage into half-time but, shortly after the break, Honduras struck back with a 56th-minute tap-in from Bengtson, Figueroa picking up the assist.
And it got even better for Luis Fernando Suarez’s side six minutes later when Yassine Jebbour brought down Bengtson in the area to concede a penalty. Bengtsonpicked himself up and slotted home his second goal of the game to put Honduras in to a 2-1 lead.
However, the scores were level again almost immediately when Labyad found himself in space and lobbed Mendoza with an inch-perfect right-footed effort.
After getting themselves back into the game, Morcocco were put on the back foot when Zakarya Bergdich inexplicably kicked out at Mario Martinez and received a red card.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Verbeek’s men went looking for a winning goal and came agonisingly close when a fine Jebbour run ended with the defender finding the side netting.
Morocco will now face Japan on Sunday, with Honduras facing the much-fancied Spain on the same day.
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