Chile beat Honduras

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP):

Jean Beausejour tapped in the only goal yesterday, giving Chile their first World Cup victory in 48 years with a 1-0 win over Honduras.  Beausejour knocked in a cross from defender Mauricio Isla in the 34th minute to give the Chileans three points in Group H.

"We're very happy and we have to enjoy this triumph," Chile forward Alexis Sanchez said. "But we have to move ahead and win the game against our next rival."

Chile came close to doubling their lead on several occasions but squandered several chances, particularly in the second half. In the 62nd, Sanchez dragged a clear-cut chance wide after he was put through by playmaker Jorge Valdivia. And in the 64th, defender Waldo Ponce saw his close-range header saved by Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

Substitute Mark Gonzalez had three attempts on goal near the end.

"We could have scored more goals and we were on top," Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa said. "You can't foresee what will happen, but if the group is decided in that way (on goal difference) then we will rue the chances we missed."

Chile were on the attack almost from the start, with midfielder Matias Fernandez threatening in the second minute with a free kick that curled just over the bar. Valdivia tapped one in the net in the 75th, but was ruled offside.

Honduras found it difficult to break through a well-organised Chilean defence, which was led by Gary Medel and was restricted to long-range efforts, primarily from lone striker Carlos Pavon.

Honduras' best chance came from midfielder Ramon Nunez, who threatened with a free kick in first-half injury time that was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Honduras defender Sergio Mendoza, whose attempted clearance rebounded off Beausejour for the winning goal, said his team had been unlucky.

"It's unfair because the goal was accidental," Mendoza said. "From then on, they didn't have any clear scoring opportunities."

Chile's last victory at the World Cup came on June 16, 1962, when they hosted the tournament and beat Yugoslavia 1-0 for third place. This is Chile's first World Cup appearance since 1998 when the team managed to get past the group stage with three draws.

Honduras played without midfielder Julio Cesar de Leon, who was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Coach Reinaldo Rueda replaced him with Jerry Palacios, making the national team the first to feature three brothers in a World Cup squad.

"We lost a bit of what Honduras needed in the middle," Honduras assistant coach Alexis Mendoza said. "We're going to get better, so we have a chance to qualify for the next round."

Line-ups: Honduras: Noel Valladares, Osman Chavez, Maynor Figueroa, Ramon Nunez (Walter Martinez, 78), Wilson Palacios, Carlos Pavon (Georgie Welcome, 60), Roger Espinoza, Edgard Alvarez, Amado Guevara (Hendry Thomas, 66), Emilio Izaguirre, Sergio Mendoza.

Chile: Claudio Bravo, Waldo Ponce, Mauricio Isla, Carlos Carmona, Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal (Pablo Contreras, 81), Jorge Valdivia (Mark Gonzalez, 87), Matias Fernandez, Jean Beausejour, Gary Medel, Rodrigo Millar (Gonzalo Jara, 52).