Haiti secured its place in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals despite suffering a 2-0 defeat against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Juno7 reported. The result dropped the Grenadiers to second place in Group A with nine points, while Costa Rica ended a ten-year winless drought against the Caribbean side.
Playing their final match of the group stage, Haiti entered the fixture on a three-match winning streak under head coach David Badía. However, early goals from Carlos Mora in the 6th minute and Andrey Soto in the 21st minute handed the team its first defeat of the campaign, leaving the squad with a final group record of three wins, one loss, nine goals scored, and five conceded.
Early Strikes Settle San Jose Encounter
With Martin Expérience unavailable, head coach David Badía turned to Duke Lacroix at the back, while Josué Duverger got the nod over Alexandre Pierre in goal. The tactical adjustments failed to halt the host nation’s momentum, as Carlos Mora capitalized early in the 6th minute before Andrey Soto doubled the lead at the 21-minute mark. Costa Rica managed the remainder of the fixture to preserve the 2-0 clean sheet.
Haiti Advances to Quarterfinals as Group A Runner-Up
Despite the setback, Haiti finished second in Group A with nine points and a +4 goal differential, trailing group winners Curaçao, who accumulated ten points following a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago. The Dominican Republic also finished the group stage with nine points after defeating Nicaragua 2-1, but remained below Haiti in the standings due to an inferior goal difference.
The qualification advances Haiti into the two-legged quarterfinals scheduled for November. As a group runner-up, the Grenadiers will face either the United States or Mexico, with the exact opponent determined by a comparative ranking of the two second-place finishers from Groups A and B once group play concludes.
Stakes for the 2027 Gold Cup
The upcoming November quarterfinals carry significant implications beyond the Nations League tournament. A victory in the two-legged series would secure Haiti a semifinal berth and an automatic qualification spot for the 2027 Gold Cup. A defeat in the quarterfinals would force the Grenadiers to play through the preliminary rounds to earn a spot in the continental tournament.
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