WASHINGTON: Mevlut Erdinc scored one goal and set up another as Turkey defeated Brazil-bound Honduras 2-0 yesterday in a World Cup warm-up friendly match.
Erdinc, a striker for French club Saint-Etienne, scored in the 70th minute and made the key pass to Caner Erkin for his 83rd minute tally.
It was the first in a series of World Cup preparation nmatches for Honduras, which will open play in Brazil against France on June 15 and also face Ecuador and Switzerland in Group E matches.
Turkey, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, sported a young lineup that lacked injured Arda Turan of Champions League runner-up Atletico Madrid. They will face the World Cup-bound United States on Sunday in suburban New York.
Turkey’s Ishak Dogan set up the first goal when he faked past Honduran defender Brayan Beckeles and charged in from the right of goalkeeper Noel Valladares, the 37-year-old Honduran captain.
Moments later, Erdinc directed a centering pass into the back of the net.
Turkey added an insurance goal when tightly guarded Erdinc flicking the ball to unmarked Erkin, who charged into the penalty area and blasted home a left-footed shot.
Honduras, bolstered by thousands of loud supporters in the crowd of 20,723 at RFK Stadium, set the early pace but the best chance went lacking when Roger Espinoza of English club Wigan had a blast from the left wing booted away by Turkish teen defender Ozan Tufan.
Meanwhile, Cameroon’s preparations for next month’s World Cup took a knock when the Africans fell 2-1 to Paraguay in a pre-tournament friendly in Kufstein.
Volker Finke’s men had secured a 2-0 win over Macedonia in Austria earlier this week as they build towards the World Cup, which they begin against Mexico on June 13.
But they were trailing early on Thursday after forward Oscar Romero put the South Americans ahead after just four minutes with Malaga striker Roque Santa Cruz netting a second after 68 minutes.
Mainz striker Maxim Choupo-Moting, who also scored against Macedonia, pulled one back 15 minutes from time for Cameroon who are reportedly locked in a battle with their federation over bonuses for the tournament.
“We’re in the final phase of World Cup preparations. These two matches were very important,” said Finke.
“A loss in a friendly warm-up match isn’t a catastrophe though.”
In other friendly, World Cup finalists Iran were held to 1-1 draw by Angola in their penultimate warm-up match in Hartberg, Austria yesterday.
Iran forward Karim Ansarifard scored a 57th-minute equaliser to prevent his side suffering a demoralising defeat before they head out to Brazil.
Iran, who will play in their fourth World Cup and face Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia in Group F, fell behind three minutes before halftime when Domingos Silvano Cussanda netted for Angola.
The two sides had faced each other in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup in Germany in a fiercely contested match which also ended 1-1.
Iran face Trinidad and Tobago in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Brazil on June 8 before they kick off their tournament against Nigeria on June 16.AGENCIES
