Haiti rallies in second half to reach semifinals
Second-half rallies have become the norm for a Haitian team that made history by winning its Gold Cup group for the first time in the nation’s history.
On Saturday night, the team made history again by scoring three second-half goals to overcome a two-score halftime deficit to defeat Canada 3-2 at NRG Stadium. Haiti will face Mexico after qualifying for its first semifinal.
“That’s one of our specialties,” coach Marc Collat said of the comeback. “The players have certain qualities and they know that as long as the match is going before the fiqnaql whistle they have to fight.”
Canada took a two-goal lead into the second half compliments of its two leading scorers, Jonathan David and Lucas Cavallini.
David scored a tournamenthigh sixth goal in the 18th minute following a free kick near the Haiti area. Midfielder Alphonso Davies quickly tapped the ball ahead and David charged into the area, then blasted the ball past the keeper.
After some initial sluggishness, Canada sliced through the Haitian defense with a fluid brand of attacking soccer. Canada put it on display almost 10 minutes later when midfielder Scott Arfield took a pass near midfield, flipped his hips to attack then shipped a long through pass to Cavallini, who cut away from the sliding keeper and calmly escorted the ball to the back of the empty net to double the lead.
Haiti’s Herve Bazile had two first-half chances curve wide of the net. Either could’ve helped chip into the deficit, but Collat had confidence his team was within striking distance.
The first strike came five minutes into the second half. In the 50th minute, Canadian defender Marcus Godinho sent a soft pass back to his goalkeeper. But the pass was rolled slowly enough for Haitian forward Duckens Nazon to pounce. He got to the ball just before the keeper and poked it into the net.
In the 70th minute, Godhinho made another costly mistake. With Haiti orchestrating its attack within the Canadian area, the defender slid in to tackle Bazile, but he was called for a penalty.
Bazile stepped up to take the kick and slotted the ball into the left side of the net to tie the game.
Cavallini sought to retake the lead on a cross into the box but he missed the header with about 15 minutes remaining. Instead, minutes later, Nazon sensed the opportunity to take the lead and the game. He received the ball on the left flank as the Haitian fans grew louder. Nazon approached the area, cut inside then shipped a pass across the area to WildeDonald Guerrier, who only needed two left-footed taps to guide the ball into the net for the goal in the 76th minute before teammates sprinted from the bench to swarm and bury him on the field.
“There was not a big speech at halftime,” Collat said. “We just looked at the fact that we had goals that could’ve been avoided. We created opportunities and (knew) if in the second half we were more serous we could be more difficult for them.”