Haiti defeat Suriname in CFU playoffs

With the result, Haiti have a plus-two goal difference, while Suriname, who defeated hosts Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in extra time on Wednesday, have a minus- one goal difference, and are out of contention for the top spot in the group.

Trinidad and Tobago, who are also on minus-one goal difference, will need to defeat Haiti by at least two clear goals in today’s (SUNDAY) game at Couva to finish first in the group.

The group winners will progress to the next stage – a twolegged playoff against the fifthplace team from this month’s Copa Centroamericana, for the last berth in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

For the first 80 minutes of Friday’s match, Haiti seemed to be in cruise control, as they dominated a Suriname team who were noticeably tired from Wednesday’s exploits.

However, Haiti allowed complacency to creep in, with Suriname, who finished the game with 10 men, reducing the deficit, to the delight of the estimated 300 TT fans in attendance.

Midfielder Herold Charles broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, with a swivelled right-footed shot, from about 12 metres out, to the right of goalkeeper Claidel Kohinor.

The Suriname goalie was alert to tip a right-footed shot from Derrick Etienne overbar but, from the resultant corner in the 41st, Haiti doubled their lead.

Charles’ corner was not cleared by the Suriname defence and centre- back Andrew Jean Baptiste’s left-footed shot was adjudged by assistant referee Jairo Morales Garcia to have crossed the line, despite the best efforts of a Suriname defender on the right goalpost.

Things got worse for Suriname in the 48th when a horrendous back-pass to his goalie by midfielder Mitchell Kisoor was intercepted by striker Ajonel Desire who calmly placed his right-footed shot beyond the reach of Kohinor.

Suriname were reduced to 10 men when left-back Guno Kwasie was sent off by referee Michel Rodriguez for a second bookable offence.

And a minute later (80th), Haiti notched their fourth, though an own goal by stopper Gillermo Faerber, who slid his attempted clearance to the left of Kohinor while under pressure from Desire.

Suriname, with a rare shot on goal, got on the scoresheet in the 86th through W Connection striker Dimitrie Apai, who got a ball from Faerber, ran in open space and sent his right-footer to the right of goalie Guerry Romondt.

And, in stoppage time, Sergino Eduard netted Suriname’s second, from close range, after Romondt horribly spilled a low cross from the left by Ivanildo Rozenblad.