Haiti thrash Cuba in U-17 final

Haiti, who won the first game of the competition 2-0 over hosts Trinidad and Tobago at the Couva venue, saved the best for last as they dismantled a combative Cuba outfit, in front of a sparse crowd.

Both teams took a while to settle down with Haiti midfielder Anderson Belus sending his effort high from the edge of the penalty box in the 25th minute.

Six minutes later, Cuba’s Manuel Cruz collected a ball from the left but failed to hit the target.

Haiti broke the deadlock in the 35th, with a penalty from Steeve Moondestin which was placed to the right of an outstretched goalkeeper Danny Echavarria, after captain Steeve Selso Saint-Duc was bundled over by central defender Christopher Llorente.

From the restart, Cuba could have equalised, as Pedro Pineiro collected a through ball from Ronaldo Rosette but his effort was blocked by an advancing Redondio Alliance in the Haiti goal.

Haiti changed gears in the second half and showed their more clinical side, to Cuba’s detriment.

Saint-Duc, who was later named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), was sent clear on goal and he neatly placed his left-footed shot to the left of Echavarria in the 54th.

Eight minutes later, Jean Jacques Danley, a gangly central midfielder, pounced on a poor clearance from the Cubans and unleashed a long-range bullet which flew past Echavarria and into the top righthand corner.

Cuba captain Brian Savigne, in the 76th, had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet, as he intercepted a horrible backpass from Obenson Laveille but his effort went off-target.

A minute later, Haiti showed how to find the back of the net, with Louidon Casseus and Saint-Duc trading passes before Casseus slotted home, between the goalie and a retreating Carlos Molina.

With a comfortable cushion, Haiti had the luxury of bringing on substitute goalie Wilder Leonard in the 81st.

He was hardly tested but had the joy of celebrating his team’s fifth when another sub, Nael Elysee, pounced on a mistake from Llorente and, from 25 metres out, neatly lobbed the stranded Echavarria.

In the earlier contest on Sunday, Jamaica won the bronze-medal game 3-0 over Curacao, with goals from Raewin Senior (21st) and Nicque Daley (48th and 70th).

Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Curacao and Suriname all booked places in the CONCACAF Under- 17 Championships in Panama from April 21 to May 7. Hosts Panama, the United States, Mexico, Canada and three Central American nations (yet to be determined), will also feature in the CONCACAF finals, from which four teams will advance to the 2017 FIFA Under- 17 World Cup in India.