Haiti pile on cup misery
(Haiti win 5-0 on aggregate)
Needing to win by at least two goals to have any chance of advancing to next week’s finals, Kyle Lightbourne’s men simply had no answer to a well-drilled Haitian outfit who were superior to their opponents in every single facet of the game.
Goals either side of two scrappy halves from Cadet Eliphene (2) and Boucicaut Alexandre were enough to give Haiti safe passage through to face Martinique, Barbados and Trinidad next week, as Bermuda’s defensive frailty, lack of pace and limited preparation were cruelly exposed once again.
“Haiti were the better side over the two legs — we’ve got absolutely no excuses,” a philosophical Lightbourne said afterwards.
“I thought we played a little better today than we did on Sunday but Haiti were a strong and disciplined side.
“The players showed some good fight and determination tonight which is what we as coaches were asking of them.
“As a team I think we’re improving and we’ve got a decent bunch of players together. We knew coming into the Haiti games that we were in for a real challenge and unfortunately we weren’t able to produce our best football.”
Quizzed again about the nature of the preparations for this tournament and whether he saw himself staying on the job, Lightbourne insisted on being optimistic.
“This is the furthest we’ve ever progressed in this tournament and we played some good football along the way,” he said.
“Our biggest regret is that we did not get to play these play-off games in Bermuda as was originally planned because I think it would have made a big difference with the crowd behind us.
“We were also missing a few crucial players through injury like Keith and Kentoine (Jennings) so that obviously set us back from the start.
“I would like to continue in the job. I think since Paul (Scope) and I have come in we’ve done pretty well and got a good thing going. Obviously it’s up to the Bermuda Football Association if they want me to continue but as far as I’m concerned, I’d like to carry on.
“I know a lot has been said on this trip about our lack of preparation, but the BFA have already made a statement about their plans for football and if their request for money from the Government is successful then we will be in a much better position in the future.”
Meanwhile, after a limp, uninspired performance in the opening leg, Lightbourne took what must have been the difficult decision to drop one of his big-name attackers in Devonshire Cougars flyer Domico Coddington and chose instead to move Khano Smith out to the left flank — where he traditionally plays for the New England Revolution — and push the burly Stephen Astwood up front alongside captain John Barry Nusum.
Cheered on from the stands by the national cricket team, recently arrived in Trinidad for a ten-day training camp, and with an early goal an absolute must, Bermuda certainly started in a more convincing fashion than they had on Sunday night.
It was the Haitians, however, who continued to command the midfield and looked the more dangerous going forward — long-limbed striker Cadet Eliphene causing considerable problems once again with his pace and power.
The first convincing strike on goal though came from Bermuda after 16 minutes as Smith’s cleanly-struck free kick from 25 yards following a Haitian handball had their ‘keeper totally beaten, only to graze the crossbar on its way over.
It was irrepressible Eliphene who drew the first blood of the evening, however, in the 18th minute, hammering another nail in Bermuda’s coffin by popping up in the box unmarked once again to plant a cross from the right past a helpless Nigel Burgess.
Now needing to score three times just to take the tie into extra-time, Bermuda really were on a hiding to nothing after that first Haitian goal went in.
Nobody present could have faulted their work ethic, and it was clear from the way they kept running and tackling that the team were not prepared to go down without a fight.
Yet Haiti were simply too organised and robust defensively for Bermuda to make any real headway while the lack of fluency in the team’s passing was depressingly reminiscent of their performance on Sunday.
The second half proved a horribly turgid affair with neither side carving out many chances. Coddington replaced Jelani Scott midway through the half as Lightbourne went in search of the late spark that was so desperately needed.
But it was Haiti who continued to do the damage as Bermuda’s indecisive defending let in Boucicaut Alexandre, who looked up to see ‘keeper Burgess off his line before chipping it over him and into the net with the deftest of touches.
The national team’s fleeting stay in the Caribbean was then well and truly summed up in the 88th minute when substitute Shaki Crockwell was awarded a penalty after being violently chopped down in the penalty area.
But the prolific marksman’s spot kick was a poor one and easily saved by keeper Fenelon Gabard diving to his right.
And with Bermuda’s defenders all over the place in the dying seconds, Cadet notched his second of the night and third of the tie with a side-footed shot from only five yards out to put Bermuda out their misery.
Bermuda: <$>N.Burgess, K.Richards, D.Zuill (S.Crockwell 58 mins), J.Scott (D.Coddington 58 mins), D.Ming, S.Astwood, J.Nusum, K.Smith, K.Steede, B.Bean, M.Wade
Haiti: F.Gabard, G.Frantz, G.Stephane, B.Fucien, C.Eliphene, B.Alexandre, B.Fritzon (G.Peter 50 mins), B.Pierre Richard,Mones, V.Alain, M.Josue
Yellow cards: <$>J.Barry-Nusum, J.Scott (Bermuda)
Men of the Match: D.Ming (Buda), C.Eliphene (Haiti)
Referee:<$> Lee Davis (Trinidad and Tobago)
