Venezuela earns 1-1 tie with late penalty kick against Honduras

Venezuela scored on a late penalty kick to earn a 1-1 tie with Honduras in front of 15,000 mostly Honduran fans Friday night at Lockhart Stadium.

After playing from behind most of the match, Venezuela finally tied the game when Giancarlo Maldonado was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Maldonado converted the penalty kick in the 77th minute.

Sergio Mendoza gave Honduras the lead in the second minute of the match, putting a shot past Venezuelan goalkeeper Leonardo Morales from inside the box. He was assisted by Julio Cesar Leon.

Honduras had another early scoring chance in the fifth minute when Wilson Palacios had a point-blank shot, only to have it turned away by Morales.

Venezuela's best scoring chance of the first half came in the 17th minute when Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares made a diving save to turn away a shot by Maldonado.