Chile coach says Suazo should be fit for 1st game

Published Jun. 9, 2010 2:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa says striker Humberto Suazo should recover from a left thigh injury in time for the team's opening World Cup match against Honduras next Wednesday.

Suazo, the top scorer in South American qualifying with 10 goals, was originally expected to be out for another two weeks.

But Bielsa said Wednesday that Suazo's recovery is on schedule and ``if everything continues like it is now, he should be available'' for the Group H match in Nelspruit.

Bielsa said Suazo's recovery would continue with ``off-field work, physical conditioning and ball work.''

Chile beat New Zealand 2-0 in a training match earlier Wednesday in Nelspruit.

Spain and Switzerland are also in Chile's group.