Chile celebrate victory that puts them joint top of Group H

Honduras assistant coach Alexis Mendoza bemoaned the absence of key midfielder Julio Cesar de Leon after the 1-0 defeat against Chile.

De Leon has a hamstring problem and missed the Group H match, which Chile dominated with some slick passing and could have won by a bigger margin.

"We lost a bit of what Honduras needed in the middle," said Mendoza.

But he added: "We're going to get better, so we have a chance to qualify for the next round."

Mendoza was standing in for head coach Reinaldo Rueda, who served a touchline ban having been sent off in Honduras' qualifying match against El Salvador.

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But the assistant coach accepted the better team had won even though they were also missing key striker David Suazo.

"The goal against us could have been avoided and we did have chances to score," reflected Mendoza.

"We did get the ball into their half but unfortunately we could not create a situation that would lead to a goal.

"We did a good job in the second half but technical merit does not count -goals count and Chile got a goal. They overcame us and I think they won quite justifiably. It was difficult for us to keep possession."

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