Cyle Larin was largely thought of for a long time to be the future of Canadian soccer. He has taken the MLS by storm and is already one of the best strikers in the league for Orlando City in just his third season. That said, he isn't on the Gold Cup roster. That figured to make this tournament a bit of a drag for the men from the Great White North.
Instead, Alphonso Davies has taken over, scoring three goals and committing himself to an inside track to the Golden Boot. Davies left the match against Costa Rica due to injury, though, and once again, Canada might be asked to play at its best without one of its rising stars when it takes on Honduras in the last match in Group A on Friday night.
This Gold Cup duel will go down Friday, July 14, 2017, at 10 p.m. ET at Toyota Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
Odds Analysis
What must be remembered in this match is what's ultimately at stake. With four points, Canada has clearly done enough to get into the knockout rounds. Even if it loses this match and finishes third, there's no way that won't get the job done to reach the quarterfinals. A draw will almost certainly place it second to Costa Rica, while a win could keep it in front of Los Ticos, provided that Costa Rica doesn't beat French Guiana by more goals than Canada beats Honduras. Good news for Canada? It'll know that Costa Rica result before it gets on the pitch on Friday night.
Honduras is in a bit trickier of a spot. The team knows that a draw is as good as a loss in all likelihood. Two of the three third place teams from the group stage will get into the quarterfinals, so effectively, getting a point against Canada (assuming Costa Rica gets at least a point against a French Guiana that may or may not field an ineligible player once again in Florent Malouda) won't do any good. It's all about the 'W' for Honduras. Three points will leave it in second place (again, assuming Costa Rica beats French Guiana), and that's crucial. The two third place teams that advance will play against Mexico and the United States in the quarterfinals, a fate that no one wants to befell.
Thus, the oddsmakers have to be careful here. Goals could end up being plentiful. Canada has been responsible for five here at the Gold Cup, so you'd think this is an easy over play. Keep in mind, though, that a man who scored three of those five goals, 16-year old Alphonso Davies, was taken off with 20 minutes left against Costa Rica due to injury, making him a distinct question mark for a potentially meaningless match.
Honduras will be favored because it has to go for broke, but the margin won't be all that large.
How They Got Here
Canada has to be thrilled with the way its first two fixtures have gone. The Canucks were easily able to push French Guiana aside before coming up with a huge result in the form of a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica.
Honduras wasn't as lucky against Los Ticos with its 1-0 loss, but it knew it had all three points against French Guiana the second it stepped on the pitch on Tuesday night to very likely secure qualification into the knockout rounds regardless as to what happens in Frisco on Friday.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Honduras' strength is really in its attack. You wouldn't know it based on the way that it has played these first couple matches, but the team has been threatening for sure every step of the way. In particular, we're big fans of the three Houston Dynamo players that can all step into the attack, midfielder, Boniek Garcia and strikers, Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto. Immediately against French Guiana, Elis and Quioto looked tremendous in attack, and they were seemingly unlucky to not score more goals.
So long as Honduras keeps its foot on the gas pedal, we think it'll get out of this group in second place thanks to a win over Canada.
Gold Cup Odds: Honduras 2, Canada 0
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