Orlando City could be missing one of their Designated Players for up to a month during the 2015 season.
Young OCSC striker Bryan Róchez and the Honduras Under-20 team qualified for the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup after downing Central American rivals Guatemala 2-1 in the first of two playoff matches on Saturday afternoon at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Jamaica.
The Hondurans will join Mexico, Panama and the winner of the other playoff between the US and El Salvador when they represent the CONCACAF region in New Zealand from May 30-June 20. It will be the sixth appearance by Honduras at a FIFA Under-20 tournament and their first since 2009.
Róchez, who had four tournament goals heading into Saturday's match, led the Honduran attack against Guatemala and earned an early penalty kick in the 16th minute when he was brought down after spinning a Guatemalan defender in the box. He stepped up to take the penalty himself but watched Guatemalan goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen make the save.
The Hondurans eventually jumped out to 1-0 lead in the 39th minute with a goal from left winger Michaell Chirinos. The Guatemalan back line could not handle a ball over the top, and the ball fell to Chirinos, who applied the left-footed finish.
Chirinos was again the catalyst for the second Honduras goal in the 56th minute, making a run down the left and serving forward Alberth Elis for an easy tap-in at the edge of the six-yard box and a 2-0 lead.
With quality service lacking on the day, Róchez didn't get many looks in the attack, but he was doing his share of defensive work in his own penalty area when he got the worst of a clash of heads in the 59th minute. He resumed play a few minutes later, only to be replaced in the 78th, substituted by a defender.
The Guatemalans made for an interesting finish, scoring a spectacular free kick goal through Diego Alvarez in the 74th minute. And only a double save by Honduras goalkeeper Roberto Lopez prevented an 87th minute equalizer.
