Spain’s Iker Muniain, right, vies for the ball with Honduras’ Alfredo Mejia during the group D men’s soccer match at St. James’ Park, in Newcastle, England, during the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 29, 2012. AP/Scott Heppell
LONDON—Spain crashed out of the Olympic football tournament on Sunday after the world and European champions suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Honduras at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
Jerry Bengtson’s seventh-minute header was all that separated the sides in a stunning victory for the Central Americans that meant Spain could not qualify out of Group D following their opening defeat by Japan.
In a fractious match featuring 12 bookings, Spain’s Iker Muniain hit the post and Rodrigo the bar, before a host of Spanish players converged upon referee Juan Soto Arevalo after the Venezuelan official denied them a penalty late on.
Bengtson scored when he rose high to power in Roger Espinoza’s driven cross past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.