Haiti quickest off the mark
Published on: 1/14/07.
HAITI were the last country to qualify for the Digicel Caribbean Cup finals but the first to record a victory with a 1-0 win over Martinique in a hard-fought second match of a double header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium here on Friday night.
The Haitians, benefitting from timely match play after winning their two-game third-place series against Bermuda 5-0 on aggregate during the past week, settled down more quickly than their French opponents.
The attacking duo of Guillaume Stéphane and Mones Chery exchanged passes before dishing out a through ball which the skilful Brunel Fucien raced on to, scoring in the 12th minute.
The fleet-footed Fucien was as cool as a cucumber, taking the ball past the advancing Martinique custodian Eddie Heurlie and easily slotting it into the vacant goal.
Haiti continued their positive play and went in search of more goals but Fucien squandered a chance to add a second, minutes after he had given his team the lead, while captain Richard Bruny sent a shot wide of the target just before half-time.
In the second half, Martinique stepped up their attacking play and almost got on the scoresheet when Patrick Percin combined well with Steve Gustan to set up Audrick Linord, whose right-footed effort went close.
Martinique were further aggrieved when striker Franciano Etinof was brought down by Haitian keeper Fenelon Gabard as he came out of his box to thwart a breakaway run through the centre, but referee Courtney Campbell only showed him a yellow card.