Waterhouse denied chance at Caribbean Club final, lose 3-1
THE FINAL edition of t he Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship will not end in title glory for Waterhouse Football Club.
Waterhouse were defeated 3-1 by Haitian club Violette AC in their semi-final game yesterday at the Estadio Cibao in the Dominican Republic. Andre Moulton gave Waterhouse the lead in the eighth minute but Roberto Louima equalised in the 21st minute, and a brace from Stevenson Jeudi in the 75th and 87th minutes completed the comeback for a team that has ended the dreams of both Jamaican teams at this tournament.
Violette eliminated reigning Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier on Tuesday after their 3-3 draw which saw Cavalier finish bottom of the group stage with only one point. Having finished the group stage unbeaten, Waterhouse applied the early pressure in the game and got the opener through Moulton who headed from close range for his second goal of the tournament.
However, Violette composed themselves and started to put Waterhouse under pressure, with Dany Camille launching a long-range effort that required Waterhouse goalkeeper Kemar Foster to tip over the bar in the 13th minute. Waterhouse’s resistance was broken eight minutes later when, f rom a giveaway in midfield, Louma’s low shot somehow got under the hands of Foster and he could only watch it roll into the back of the net. Both teams had their chances in the first half but it was in the second half that Violette gained full control of the game. Elyvens Dejean came close to putting them ahead but his shot went wide. Violette also had a great one-time effort that missed the target.
Waterhouse got a few opportunities to work themselves into Violette’s final third. Secondhalf substitute Denardo Thomas got a shot on target but did not test goalkeeper Steve Sanon.
DANGER
But Waterhouse’s misfortunes would continue 15 minutes before the end as Jeudi’s header was initially saved by Foster but the ball trickled into the back of the net before the Waterhouse defenders could clear the danger, giving Violette the lead and putting Waterhouse in further trouble.
Violette ensured that there would be no comeback as Jeudi finished from close range after Kemar Foster’s attempted punch out of the box fell into his path, dooming them to defeat. Waterhouse have yet to win the tournament, finishing as runners-up twice in 2014 and 2019.
While Waterhouse’s title aspirations have ended, they still have an opportunity to qualify for continental competition this season. They will now play in the third-place play-off on Sunday, with the winners qualifying for the 2022 Concacaf League.