Haiti 1 Trinidad and Tobago 1
June 19 – Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago delivered 90 minutes of full-blooded football on a steaming hot, late afternoon in Houston at the Shell Energy Stadium battling to a draw that keeps them both in with a chance of making it into the knockout round.
It was action and drama from the start from two teams with a point to prove – perhaps as much to themselves as to their public.
Both teams will rue the missed opportunity of this match. Haiti missed chances and a penalty at the end, while Trinidad and Tobago didn’t have quite enough to capitalise on being a man up for 50 minutes.
What they delivered was however great entertainment and testament to the commitment and spirit of both nations.
Both teams started their Gold Cup campaigns with losses. Trinidad and Tobago had been overwhelmed by the USA 5-0 while Haiti had failed to take their chances in a surprise 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia.
In many respects this was always going to a battle of the irresistible force meets the immovable object. Two big, powerful and pacey teams prepared to duke it out in a heavyweight contest. They didn’t disappoint.
The speed and athleticism was impressive even though the execution of the football skills too often were not at the pace required.
Haiti coach Sébastien Migné made just one change from the team that started against Saudi Arabia, bringing in forward Ruben Providence for winger Teo Michel. Dwight Yorke made four changes bringing in 18 year old Crystal palace youth team player Rio Cardines and dropping veteran Kevin Molino to the bench. Molino was later to come on to great effect.
Haiti set the pattern for the first half, starting strong.
On 14 minuted Leverton Pierre had a shot from edge of box wide of Marvin Phillip’s left post. Danley jean then dragged the b ball wide in the 16th minute while four minutes later Duckens Nazon flicked on a corner over the bar.
Trinidad were soaking up pressure defensively and were unable to get any control in midfield, particularly with the front line of Levi Garcia, Nathaniel James and Dante Sealy playing high. A real threat on the counter but without the ball no threat at all.
Haiti pressed and pressured. Nazon again shot wide on 25 minutes.
In the 26th minute Haiti thought they were a goal up. Frantzdy Pierrot, finding himself in front of goal and unmarked put the ball past Phillips only to be rule offside.
On 38 minutes the course of the match changed.
Levi Garcia, starved of possession up to this point, was fed the ball just inside the Haiti half. He let the ball run past him and slipped past his marker Jean-Kevin Deverne for an open run at goal, only to be clipped by Deverne who was red carded as the last man. Harsh but the right decision.
If Haiti were feeling hard done by at that point, the feeling only intensified five minutes later.
Ruben Providence attacking inside the Trinidad box was brought down by Sheldon Bateau 6m out. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot – it looked nailed on. After a lengthy VAR review the referee was called to the monitor and an even longer wait ensued. No penalty and Trinidad breathed an almighty sigh of relief.
With the score 0-0 at half time, Haiti a man-down, and fortune favouring Trinidad, suddenly the match was taking on a very different complexion.
Haiti had controlled the half with 55% of the possession and had outshot Trinidad 8-1. But now with a one-man advantage this contest had suddenly evened up and Trinidad had an opening.
Yorke kept with his 5-3-3 formation in the second hal. Haiti dropped to a 5-3-1, removing Nazon but retaining the Stakhanov of a centre forward Pierrot – he can do the heavy lifting of 10 men
Three minutes into the second half it was an energised Haiti who took the lead.
Don Louicius, a constant threat on the right hand side, turned Isiah Garcia inside out before crossing low to the man-mountain Pierrot 2m out in front of goal. One touch and a turn to thump the ball in with venom – simple.
Trinidad were still struggling to cope with Haiti’s physical presence and were lucky not have a penalty awarded against them on 53 minutes. At the other end Levi Garcia flashed a shot across the front of goal.
Yorke turned to his bench and brought on Molino –it was time for experience and a cool head in the centre of midfield. Molino immediately made a difference, pushing and probing through the Haiti back line.
Momentum was shifting towards the Haitian goal. On 64 minutes Tyrese Spicer was through on the left but his shot hit the post.
Three minutes letter Trinidad were level. A free kick from the left by Molino found the head of Isiah Garcia to beat a stranded Jhony Placide, 1-1.
Trinidad were now a very different proposition and Spicer on the left was suddenly a real threat.
In the 83rd minute Andre Raymond brought down Wilguens Paugen on the right hand side just in the box. It was the third call for a Haiti penalty and this time it stood.
Mondy Prunier, on for Pierrot, stepped up, shuffled, hesitated, shuffled again and scooped the ball over the bar. It really wasn’t Haiti’s night but in terms of drama this plot was compelling.
With the clock ticking into five minutes of added time Molino was pulled down in front of goal, just outside the box. Sheldon Bateau wasted the opportunity.
A helter skelter finish saw no goals, honours even and two exhausted sets of players, physically and emotionally.
The Gold Cup had delivered again.
| Grp D | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Haiti | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1750401758labto1750401758ofdlr1750401758owedi1750401758sni@n1750401758osloh1750401758cin.l1750401758uap1750401758