BELO HORIZONTE: Honduras wrote a page of Olympic history of their own in defeating South Korea 1-0 in the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte to reach the Olympic football semi-finals for the first time.
The Koreans had been bronze medal winners in London four years ago but their hopes of at least a repeat were wrecked by a second-half breakaway goal from Alberth Elis.
At the other end Honduran goalkeeper Luis Lopez put on a heroic display to hold the Koreans at bay.
Son Heungmin had the first opportunity to break the deadlock in the opening few minutes, finding space on the Korean right and cutting inside before finding his shot blocked by Johnny Palacios.
A foreshadow of events in the second half occurred on the half-hour mark, as Antony Lozano found Romell Quioto behind the Korean defence but he was unable to provide a decisive touch.
This was when Lopez began his goalkeeping masterclass. A succession of stunning saves kept Shin Taeyong’s side at bay, including two fine first-half saves from Son followed by a spectacular stop from Moon Changjin after the break.
The Hondurans were rewarded for their goalkeeper’s heroics, and the Koreans punished for their profligacy, by a lightning counter-attack which saw Quioto sprint clear of the Korean midfield and ultimately set up Elis to score what proved the winning goal.
Honduras thus headed to Rio de Janeiro for a semi-final at Maracana against Brazil or Colombia.
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