Jamaica, Haiti into semis

By Ian Prescott ian.prescott@trinidadexpress.com
Story Updated: Aug 22, 2014 at 8:21 PM ECT
Haiti booked a spot at the 2014 Concacaf Women’s Championship from October 16-25 in the US, joining Jamaica as the two Group B qualifiers from the 2014 Women’s Caribbean Cup, currently taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.
Haiti won 4-0 over Puerto Rico on Thursday night at Ato Boldon Stadium (ABS), Couva, following up a convincing 5-1 victory over Bermuda two nights earlier at the same venue. Likewise, Jamaica won twice, beating Puerto Rico (4-1) and Bermuda (9-1).
Both Haiti and Jamaica have six points and will fight for the group’s top honours this evening from 6.15 p.m., at the ABS. The winner will move on to Tuesday’s Caribbean Cup final against the winners of Group A, which contains host Trinidad and Tobago. The losers will play for third spot in the tournament. Before tonight’s main clash, winless Bermuda and Puerto Rico will meet at 4 p.m.
Puerto Rico began intent on keeping World Cup hopes alive on Thursday night, and played much better than the final score might suggest. Haiti found trouble getting the two forwards to score in their opening win over Bermuda.
So, Haiti’s Polish head-coach Shek Borkowski made an adjustment. He dropped wasteful striker Marie Jean Pierre to the bench and pushed goal-scoring midfielder Lindsay Zullo up front. Still, two defenders were responsible for Hait’s first two goals.
Haiti had an early chance when the penetrative left-midfielder Manoucheka Pierre-Louis hit a “grounder” an inch wide. But it took one of several forceful overlapping runs by the speedy right-back to make the breakthrough in the ninth minute. Yvrose Geril came forward with a deep, penetrative run and just when she looked about to find a pass, shot the ball into the roof of the net at the near post.
Desperate, the Puerto Ricans were tougher for long periods of the first half and looked the better team. Their best player, midfielder Laura Suarez forced a good save from the Haitian keeper Geralda Saintilus-- one of several good Puerto Rico forward attacks. But, when Haitian captain and central defender Kencia Marseille poked a free-kick in from close up on the stroke of halftime, a 2-0 lead seemed to much to overcome.
The Haitians were more athletic, ran all match, and were willing to put in a tackle in every part of the field. California-born striker Samantha Brand then extended their lead with a shot into the roof in the 75th, following another forward run by the right-back. And striker Jean Pierre came off the bench and finished powerfully for a fourth goal in the 80th minute.
2014 CFU WOMEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP RESULTS:
(GROUP A):
(August 21)
Jamaica:, 9 (Shakira Duncan Goal 32rd, 45th, 47th & 76th) Donnakay Henry 5th & 90+2, Alicia Wilson 28th, Denecia Reid 78th, own goal) Bermuda 1 (Shantae Todd 70th)
Haiti 4 (Yvrose Gervil Goal 9th, Kencia Marseille 45th+, Samantha Brand 75th, Marie Jean Pierre 80th) vs Puerto Rico 0
(August 19):
Jamaica : 4 (Donnakay Henry 3rd pen., Shakira Duncan 34th & 51st, Nicole Campbell-Green 47th)
Puerto Rico: 1 (Laura Suarez 25)
Haiti: 5 (Marie Jean-Pierre 8th, Lindsay Zullo Goal 38th, Manoucheka Pierre-Louis 40th, Wisline Dolce Goal 86th, Jenerve Charles Goal 89th)
Bermuda: 1 (Shantae Todd 88th)