Real Hope bags first Concacaf Caribbean Cup win, Ouanaminthe suffers first loss

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Reigning Haitian soccer champions Real Hope Football Academy won its first-ever game in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, coming back from a 1-0 deficit to mount over Jamaican champions Cavalier FC 2-1 on Sept. 17. 

“We’re like that in Haiti; no matter which team is leading us, we always remain confident and tell ourselves we haven’t lost the game until the ref blows the final whistle,” said substitute Steeve Mondestin, who netted the game-winning penalty kick in the 66th minute. 

“I knew I was going to score the winning goal and worked for it,” Mondestin added. “I’m very pleased. This is big for me and Concacaf.”

Real Hope, a club with a decade of history, is making its third appearance in regional tournaments. The club previously participated in the Caribbean Club Championship in 2018 and 2019. In their debut year, The Rhinoceroses secured one victory but suffered two defeats. The following year, their campaign concluded with losses in all three matches played. The Caribbean Club Championship was replaced by the Concacaf Caribbean Cup in 2023.

The following night after Real Hope’s win was a painful one for Haitian soccer fans as Ouanaminthe Football Club 2011 suffered its first loss in the Caribbean Cup, falling to Dominican side Moca F.C. 3-1 on Sept. 18.

Ouanaminthe lost away from home at Estadio Moca 85. As for Real Hope, a Cap-Haïtien club, they defeated Cavalier in their home country at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. 

Real Hope’s comeback 

Dwayne Atkinson opened the scoring for the Kingston-based club early in the fourth minute. Shaquille Stein beat Real Hope’s star defender Colo Myson on the dribble in the box, then passed the ball to Atkinson, who calmly steered a shot in the net.

“When we entered the locker room, we told ourselves we were going to do whatever it would take for our team to win,” Mondestin said. 

The Rhinoceroses did not find the equalizer until the 60th minute. Midfielder Johnson Jeudy pushed an exquisite through ball in the box. Jeudy’s target, substitute Rikanel Chéry, followed the trajectory of the ball and waited for the perfect time to skillfully hit a shot past the opposing goalkeeper and into the net.

Four minutes later, the Haitian champions were awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box. A confident Mondestin converted the penalty, picking the left corner of the net. 

However, it was the first substitute who scored who was selected as the Player of the Game, Chéry.

In Ouanaminthe’s game, Jason Yambatis scored the first goal for Moca in the 20th minute.

Fredlin Philistin leveled it up for Les Capitaines with an exquisite glancing header in the 21st minute.

Moca FC scored two unanswered goals in the second half, thanks to Gustavo Acosna and Victor Sanchez, to beat Ouanaminthe 3-1.

Ouanaminthe needs to win next game

It is Ouanaminthe’s first appearance in any regional tournaments. The club sits in last place in Group B with one point after playing two games. Ouanaminthe drew its first game with Port-of-Spain last month. 

Meanwhile, Real Hope is in second place in Group A with four points. The northerners drew with Police FC 1-1 in their opening game last month. 

The top two teams from Group A and Group B will advance to the semifinals in October.

Both Ouanaminthe and Real Hope have two games left in their groups. Ouanaminthe needs to win its next game to keep its hope of qualifying for the semifinals alive. In its next game, the club will face its fellow underdogs in Group B, Antiguan side Grenades F.C., at Estadio Moca 85 on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. local time.

On its end, Real Hope will face another Jamaican giant in Jamaica as it will clash with Arnett Gardens F.C. at Sabina Park on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. local time.

After winning on Tuesday, Real Hope players are feeling extremely confident before their next game.

“After this victory, I don’t think there’s a team that can hold us,” Mondestin said. “Haiti believes in us, the team’s staff members believe in us, and we believe in ourselves and see us qualifying [for the semis] and even going further.” 

The post Real Hope bags first Concacaf Caribbean Cup win, Ouanaminthe suffers first loss appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Real Hope bags first Concacaf Caribbean Cup win, Ouanaminthe suffers first loss was first posted on September 19, 2024 at 12:03 pm.