MEXICO CITY, July 16: Defender Maicon and striker Diego guided Brazil to an uninspiring 2-1 win over Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday.

Maicon opened the scoring from the edge of the penalty area in the 16th minute after Honduras’ goalkeeper Victor Coello failed to clear the ball with a weak punch.

Brazil’s Kaka should have doubled the lead two minutes later but his poorly-taken penalty following a foul on Robinho was saved by Coello with one hand as he dived to his right.

Despite the absence of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, Brazil’s young team had showed real class in a 1-0 defeat against Mexico on Sunday but they were nowhere near as impressive against Honduras.

The Honduran team slowly fought their way back into the scrappy game but Brazil stretched their lead in the 85th minute when a poor headed clearance fell to Diego, who volleyed it home from just beyond the penalty spot.

Honduras pulled a goal back in injury time after Julio Cesar Leon went down inside the area following a challenge from Adriano before converting the penalty himself.

That penalty could prove costly to the Brazilian team as a 2-0 win would have guaranteed they qualify from Group A. Honduras need to beat Mexico in the final group game on Thursday to have any chance of qualifying. If they do, goal difference will decide which one of the three teams fails to qualify.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jamaica survived the 49th-minute dismissal of striker Onandi Lowe to beat Guatemala 2-0 in their Group B match in Miami.

Lowe opened the scoring in the 30th minute when he picked up a pass from Ricardo Gardner and hit a driving left-foot shot past goalkeeper Edgar Estrada.

Andrew Williams made the score 2-0 when he slotted in a 71st-minute from the penalty spot.—Reuters