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Good start for Haiti in Digicel Caribbean Football Cup Tournament

published: Sunday | January 14, 2007

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Haiti logged an early goal by Brunel Fucien and ran out 1-0 winners over former champions Martinique on the opening evening of the Digicel Caribbean Cup football finals on Friday.

Playing the second match of the double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium where hosts Trinidad and Tobago drew 1-1 with Barbados in the curtain-raiser, Fucien scored in the first quarter of the game for the Haitians to sink Martinique.

The win pushed Haiti into the early lead in Group A (Sedley Joseph Group) and avenged the 1-0 loss they suffered to Martinique in Fort de France when the two teams met in Group I second round qualifying match in November.

passing game

The game started competitively with both teams exhibiting a neat passing game, but Haiti pierced Martinique's defence decisively in the 12th minute and Fucien provided a classy finish for the winning goal.

Combining well on the right side, Guillame Stephane, Chery Mones and Boucicat Alexandre produced a series of passes to send Fucien through.

Alexandre delivered the final pass that split the defence and Fucien ran through for a one-and-one with the Martinique goalkeeper Eddie Heurlie.

As Heurlie advanced for a diving challenge, Fucien adeptly chipped the ball over his body and knocked the ball into a wide open goal from just six yards shrugging off an aggressive late tackle from an onrushing defender.

Martinique fought hard for the equaliser but Haiti's defence stood firm.

In the 92nd minute, it took a last minute diving tackle from Haitian captain and Motorola Man of the Match Bruny Pierre to keep Martinique scoreless.

draw

Earlier, in front of around 8,000 noisy home fans, Trinidad and Tobago could only manage a draw against Barbados in their opening match.

Wim Rijsbergen's team opened the game strongly, passing the ball well and enjoying the bulk of the possession.

The T&T Soca Warriors opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Gary Glasgow collected a pass from Leslie Fitzpatrick and scored.

Barbados rallied in the second half and netted a fine goal to tie the game on 66 minutes, Britain-based Neil Harvey connecting with a firm header from a left-sided free-kick by captain Norman Forde.

The tournament continues today with the start of Group B (Bobby Sookram Group), Cuba facing Guadeloupe and Guyana tackling St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).