Haiti finish 3rd with ‘extra’ effort

Trinidad Express Newspapers:

HAITI scored a 1-0 extra-time victory over Martinique before a near empty stadium to take third spot in the 16th edition of the Caribbean Cup Football Championships yesterday at the Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s.

Late substitute Leonel St Preux got the winner five minutes into extra-time to separate two well-matched teams that had played to a goalless draw after 90 minutes.

Haiti won US$50,000 for third spot, while fourth-placed finishers Martinique got US$30,000.

The match was low-keyed until the four minutes of time which the referee added on at the end of the regulation period. There, Haiti twice looked to have won the match. First, the Martinique goalkeeper Emmanuel Vermignon brought off a good save in the penalty box, and Haiti striker Peguero Philippe also held his head in agony when heading a corner-kick off the underside of the crossbar.

Martinique also finally forced Haitian keeper Jhony Placide into action for the first time when substitute Daniel Herelle curled a free-kick to the far top corner, forcing the goalie to acrobatically tip the ball away as it looked to enter the net.

That forced another 30 minutes of extra-time and five minutes in, the Haitians were ahead when late substitute St Preux calmly guided a low pass away from the Martinique keeper.

Earlier, the match was balanced throughout.

Haiti dominated possession in the first half without looking menacing against a Martinique team which had five changes from the semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago, including captain Sebastien Cretinoir.

However, Martinique came into their own in the second half when they began making some raids in the Haitian half. Although starting Kevin Pasemain, Martinique kept their West Ham United star striker Frederick Piquionne on the bench for much of the match.

Piquionne could be seen looking very agitated as he and teammate Steven Lecevel warmed up up seemingly without end approaching the final quarter-hour of the match.

After a while, Piquionne simply stopped and looked on at the action. Probably watching the blistering, hot conditions and also anticipating the tight match going into extra-time, Martinique’s coach Patrick Cavelan only called on both Piquionne and Lecevel with just seven minutes left in the 90 minute regulation period when he made a double change. Haiti had done the same, by keeping dangerman Preux on the bench until the 80th minute. Haiti’s changes had the most impact.

—Ian Prescott

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