Mexico’s “El Tri” men’s soccer team has its back against the wall after a sloppy 2-0 loss to Honduras in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals on Friday.

Honduras scored twice in the second half and will look to protect their lead in the second leg at Nemesio Díez Stadium in Toluca, México state, on Tuesday.

¡PERFECT SECURITY AND ORGANIZATION!

Javier Aguirre will go a fuerte with a lata de cerveza launched desde las gradas lo que provocó that it opens to their cabeza and finishara sangrando

NO HAY PLACE FOR VIOLENCE EN EL FOOTBOL #RivalidadAzteca pic.twitter.com/8XT7Dozgfn

— TV Azteca Deportes (@AztecaDeportes) November 16, 2024

To add insult to injury, the Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was hit in the head with an object thrown from the stands after the match.

The bloodied manager played down the incident in the post-match media session, but the sport’s governing body, FIFA, condemned the attack. Concacaf, the regional governing body, announced it was conducting an investigation.

In a statement, the Football Association of Honduras (FFH) said it “regrets the isolated actions of a small group of fans” but claimed Aguirre was partly to blame, according to Goal.com.

FFH categorically rejects the words, unpleasant gestures and provocative attitudes of the coach of the Mexican national team, who insulted and provoked the Honduran fans from the beginning of the match.

On the ground in San Pedro Sula, El Tri started slowly before enjoying longer possessions. However, the team lacked determination and precision – errant passes and over-dribbling were among Mexico’s most frequent mistakes – unable to probe the Honduras defense effectively.

Mexico was terribly ineffective in the attacking third and rarely got the ball into the Honduras box. Indeed, El Tri managed four weak shots on goal, none of which caused Catracho goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar any concern.

Aguirre’s training decisions have also raised eyebrows in just his fifth game as coach since taking over for Jaime Lozano, who was fired in July.

The veteran coach – now in his third spell as El Tri coach – used aging Guillermo Ochoa in goal, moved right-footed centre-back César Montes to the left and introduced Israel Reyes as a partner in place of the injured Johan Vásquez . . Aguirre started on Julián Quiñones, also on the right wing, while the five-time Liga MX champion usually played on the left side.

¡Ya entrenamos en el Nemesio Diez!

Aquí una probadita de cómo estuvo todo, pero el #Interior with all the details are available : pic.twitter.com/WHHAsYmlQi

— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) November 17, 2024

Mexico will face Honduras again on Tuesday night at the Nemesio Díez Stadium in Toluca, México state.

Playing from the back, Montes shot his clearance, sending the ball straight to Edwin Rodríguez, who fired home from 22 yards. Ochoa blocked the low shot but coughed it up, taking it back straight to Luis Palma, who fired it past the leaning keeper.

In the 83rd minute, Montes unsuccessfully chased down a play in the Honduran half, and the hosts took advantage of the gaping hole it left in the middle of Mexico’s backline.

The result is identical to last year’s quarter-final, when Mexico came home from Honduras with a 2-0 deficit. In the return match at the Estadio Azteca, El Tri forced extra time with a late Edson Álvarez goal, then won the ensuing shootout.

With reports from ESPN, Goal.com and Sports Illustrated