Honduras slips past El Salvador on penalty kicks in friendly

Honduras edges El Salvador on penalty kicks

LOS ANGELES — Goalkeeper Noel Valladares made two saves for Honduras during a penalty-kick shootout for a victory over El Salvador in an exhibition Saturday night.

Both teams played to a 2-2 tie after 90 minutes of regulation. Rodolfo Zelaya had both of El Salvador’s goals. Oscar Bonieck Garcia and Roger Rojas scored for Honduras.

Valladares, who started for Honduras in the World Cup, recovered after leaning to his right to catch Zelaya’s shot and went to his right to block Rudis Corrales’ attempt.

Rojas, Sergio Mendoza, Juan Carlos Garcia and Jorge Claros converted for Honduras. Cristian Castillo, Denis Alas and Shawn Martin made El Salvador’s penalty kicks.

Rojas put Honduras ahead 2-1 in the 86th minute with a diagonal 18-yard shot inside the left post. But Zelaya forced the tie in second-half stoppage time with a penalty kick.

Zelaya gave El Salvador a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute by converting a 6-yard shot. Oscar Bonieck Garcia tied the score in the 58th minute with a curling 23-yard shot.

El Salvador goalkeeper Dagoberto Portillo kept Honduras from taking an earlier lead by blocking Jerry Bengston’s penalty kick in the 65th minute.

Honduras started five members of its World Cup team: Valladares, Mendoza, Oscar Bonieck Garcia and defenders Maynor Figueroa and Jhony Palacios.