Haiti 4 Bermuda 1

Bermuda were eliminated from the Gold Cup at the qualifying stage last night when a first-half hat-trick by Frantzdy Pierrot inside 11 minutes set Haiti up for a comfortable victory at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Haiti were clearly the better side in the first half, making Bermuda pay for a miss by Zeiko Lewis after just 46 seconds. The midfielder blew a good chance when he found space on the left side of the penalty box but snatched at his left-footed shot, which went well wide of the near post.

After big wins for Haiti and Bermuda in their previous outings, a high-scoring match was anticipated as they battled for a spot in the group stage.

Haiti quickly found their rhythm after that early scare and once they took the lead in the 23rd minute they never looked back, booking their place in the next stage where they will meet the United States in their opening group B match on Sunday.

Haiti led 3-0 at the half before Bermuda, with more fight in them in the second half after a double substitution at the start of the half, pulled a goal back ten minutes from the end through captain Nahki Wells.

The goal lifted Bermuda’s spirits, but it did not last, however, as Haiti restored their three-goal lead with a fourth goal from the penalty spot with three minutes remaining.

Wells admitted Haiti were the better team and deserved the victory. “We know we underachieved tonight, both defensively and in the attack,” said Wells, disappointed the unchanged team could not build on the performance they had against Barbados last week when they won 8-1.

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“It’s hard to put a finger on what went wrong but they were just the better team today. We had enough chances to probably get a couple more goals, but they did what you have to do to win games and that was score goals.

“Obviously 1-0 is never a difficult scoreline for us to turn around because we can score against anybody, but when it went to 2-0 I don’t think we managed the game well enough. As our captain I have to say I underachieved in that department and didn’t rally us enough to stay in the game.”

Pierrot opened his account through a quick break which saw Duckens Nazon slip the ball to him inside the box before he rounded goalkeeper Dale Eve and drove a left-footed shot into the open goal.

The best chances continued to fall to Haiti as they doubled their lead four minutes later with Pierrot’s second, this time when a long ball forward down the right side saw Pierrot challenge defender Jaylon Bather. Pierrot cut inside as Bather lost his balance and then hit a right-footed shot over Eve.

Pierrot completed his hat-trick in the 34th minute when he calmly side-footed past Eve from close range after a cross from the right by Carnejy Antoine.

Coach Kyle Lightbourne made a couple of changes at half-time, bringing on Kole Hall for full back Eusebio Blankendal and Kane Crichlow for Reggie Lambe at the start of the second half, with Justin Donawa switching to right back.

Bermuda began playing with more purpose from the start of the half as they tried to reduce the deficit. A quickly taken free kick by Lewis set up Wells but his shot was blocked by Haiti goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was Bermuda’s best period of the match. Substitute Minors became Bermuda’s first booking on the hour when he pulled back Damus, Haiti’s first substitution.

Former captain Danté Leverock was then shown the yellow card for a challenge from behind on Nazon, which left both players needing treatment as the Bermuda defender took a blow to his face after a clash of heads.

Hall went close with a left-footed effort that was blocked by the goalkeeper, then Wells shot off target after a good build-up.

Bermuda did threaten a late fightback when Wells pulled a goal back ten minutes from time, running on to a clever ball from Crichlow and rounding the goalkeeper before adding to his hat-trick scored against Barbados.

However, the joy lasted just a few minutes as Haiti sealed the win with a penalty from Nazon after the lively Damus was nudged in the back by Simmons. Nazon sent Eve the wrong way with his well-placed spot-kick.

SCORERS

Haiti: Pierrot 23, 28, 34

Nason 87 pen

Bermuda: Wells 80

TEAMS

Haiti (4-3-3): B Sylvestere – C Arcus, R Adé, J Geffrard, M Expérience – D Etienne Jr (sub: Z Herivaux, 82min), B Alceus, L Pierre (sub: K Lafrance, 60) – D Nazon, F Pierrot (sub: R Damus 54), C Antoine (sub: S Lambese, 81). Substitutes not used: J Duverger, I Rouaud, F Dulysse, A Christian, D Clerveaux, D Louicius, R Louima. Booked: Expérience.

Bermuda (4-2-3-1): D Eve – E Blankendal (sub: K Hall, 46), J Bather, D Leverock, C Minors (sub: R Jones Jr, 69) – M Butterfield (sub: J Smith, 80), R Lambe (sub: K Crichlow, 46) – J Donawa, W Clemons, Z Lewis (sub: L Simmons, 69) – N Wells. Substitutes not used: D Bell, Q Hunt, R Lee, D Usher, J Bean-Lindo, K Bean, L Robinson. Booked: Minors, Leverock, Hall.

Referee: I Barton (El Salvador).