No matter what happens at the end of the night, the Haitian national team left it all on the field. Five years after a devastating earthquake crippled not just their football association but their homeland, Haiti finally seems to be back on the right path. An early goal by Duckens Lazon pushed the Caribbean nation past Honduras 1-0 and in a prime spot for a Gold Cup Quarterfinal spot.
Despite the sweltering conditions ( the heat index on the field read 111 degrees at one point) Haiti looked cool and confident at running their attacking programme. Haiti nearly struck first in the 8th minute when midfielder James Marcelin’s shot went wide. The Haitians with Marcelin, Wilde-Donald Guerrier, and subsitute Jean Eudes Maurice at times frustrated Honduras with sets of quick one touche passes in open space. Honduran right-back Henry Figueroa struggled to keep up with the young, energetic trio.
Haiti would eventually break through in the 14th minute when a pass by midfielder Jeff Louis would find surging forward Duckens Nazon. Nazon would break past Honduran left-back Maynor Figueroa and hit a low bouncy shot into the back of the net. The goal was Nazon’s second of the tournament.
Sensing that their Gold Cup might be over, Honduras sprung on the attack. Just six minutes later, midfielder Erick Andino would lay in a pass for Mario Martinez in Haiti’s box that was just beyond his reach. Honduras would once again try the same method in the 28th minute, this time with midfielder Anthony Lozano laying it in for Andy Najar. But once again Honduras failed to control their chance and deliver the clinical strike.
After a lethargic first half, Honduras came back in the second half with some poise and purpose. Against a Haitian defense that looked exhausted in the second half, the Honduran attack capitalized. In the 76th minute, Honduran midfielder Bryan Garcia leaped and squared a header that appeared to be going for the upper left corner of Haiti’s goal. However his shot would inevitably go over the bar.
Honduras would have another chance in the 78th minute when on a free kick midfielder Cristano would find himself with a golden opportunity. Although his chance was promising he would inevitably be ruled offside. The Haitian defense, led by Haitian center-back Mechack Jerome would frustrate the Motagua man by playing a high line and draw him offsides on multiple occasions.
With the victory, Haiti (1-0-2, 5 points) all but assured themselves a spot in the quarter-final round of the Gold Cup. Barring a victory by Panama over the United States, Haiti will qualify as the #2 seed. Even a Panama victory does not necessarily mean the end of their hopes for Gold Cup glory; they could still qualify as one of the top two third-placed teams. Doing so will mean they will be in the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2009.
For Honduras (0-2-1, 1 point) this loss spells the end of their Gold Cup run in 2015. After a disappointing showing at the Copa Centroamericana and nearly losing out to French Guyana in a two-game playoff, bottoming out of this tournament will likely raise more questions as to where this program is going. Qualification for the 2016 Olympics in the Fall might give a sign as to where the Honduran Football Association sees this program going.
