Cap-Haitien club’s fatigue and costly foul lead to slim loss against Cibao in Caribbean Cup playoffs

CAP-HAÏTIEN — On a rainy Oct. 23 at Santiago’s Campo Y Pista PUCMM stadium, Real Hope Football Academy seemed poised to return to Cap-Haïtien victorious in the first leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-final—until the final four minutes.

But tired Real Hope midfielders were walking and casually jogging back while the Cibao Football Club players pounced toward their goal. Consequently, an unmarked Rivaldo Correa chips the ball to Jose Barreto toward the box. Real Hope’s defender Michel Huguens flicks both feet in the air to attempt to intercept the ball but kicks Barreto instead. 

The referee whistles for a penalty and gives Huguens a second yellow card which equals to a red one and an ejection. Correa converts the penalty for Cibao. Real Hope loses the game 3-2.

The action that led to the penalty summarizes Haitian clubs’ weaknesses in the Caribbean Cup this season and in previous regional tournaments. The players are not in shape and often lack the energy needed late in games or even late in first halves. 

Real Hope and Ouanaminthe Football Club have conceded four goals late in games in the last nine matches played in the Caribbean Cup.

The two clubs also have a history of reckless play and often commit hard fouls in unnecessary situations and attempt acrobatic but dangerous interceptions. Real Hope and Ouanaminthe both have a red card each. 

Ouanaminthe did not make the playoffs after the club finished in last place in Group B. Ouanaminthe’s head coach Roudy Joseph prioritized teaching players how to play clean before the start of the tournament but to no avail. 

Real Hope conceded three yellow cards on Wednesday night. One of them was given after center back Peterson Pierre elbowed Correa on the side of his face in the 75th minute. Pierre elbowed Correa in the midfield while both players were jumping for a header. Huguens had already received his first yellow in the 57th minute so both of Real Hope’s center backs were playing on a yellow in the second half. 

Pierre was subbed out in the 82nd minute but Huguens remained in the game and eventually received the second yellow card. The 30-year-old will miss the second leg on Oct. 31.  

The Cap-Haitien-based club also conceded the second goal partially because the midfield was lackluster. Juan Diaz scored from an uncontested shot from midfield in the 49th minute.

Exilus has eyes for goals

One positive takeaway from Wednesday night’s game is that the top scorer of the Caribbean Cup is now Haitian: Angelo Exilus. Exillus was on target twice, bringing up his tally to five goals in five games. 

The Port-au-Prince native scored from a penalty in the 11th minute. Later in the 84th minute, Exilus banged in a header, proving to be a versatile scorer. The 25-year-old is agile and a clinical finisher.

Real Hope will need to score at least two goals on Oct. 31 to have a chance to move to the final. The defenders will need to play smart and avoid rash fouls so they don’t concede penalty kicks or get ejected.

With just four goals conceded and nine scored in the group stage, Cibao has proven formidable, making Real Hope’s goal of a two-goal victory on Oct. 31 a daunting challenge.

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