Jamaica beats Haiti 1-0, will play US in Gold Cup semifinal

Jamaica’s progress to the last eight was far more straightforward as they topped Group B with seven points thanks to a draw with Costa Rica and wins over Canada and El Salvador. The winners of each match will face one another in the second semifinal to be played in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Arael Arguellez left the Cuban team after the Mexico match, midfielder Dario Suarez defected after the second game in Charlotte, and a fourth player, Aricheel Hernandez, missed the team’s third game and is presumed to be seeking political asylum, as well. Jamaica are definitely the stronger team here but theh do look like they will need to find some inspiration up front if they are to get the win here. Jamaica managed to hold off the flurry of Haiti’s attempts through the remainder of the match and earned a date with the United States in the semifinal. “Unfortunately, things were not handled right and I take full responsibility for my actions, but this wasn’t to do with lack of playing time”.

“I hope Roy (Miller) or me to reach finals”, he said.

After the 1-1 draw with Panama, Marcelin wanted Haiti to “wake up out of this dream” and focus on the game against the United States. “I had the opportunity to stay in this country, and wasn’t going to pass it up”.

Despite the defections and losing its first two games by a combined score of 8-0, Cuba (1-2-0) managed to advance after beating Guatemala 1-0.

Pierre, the 34-year-old Haitian captain, has played professional football in France for 14 years, half of that time with top flight Nantes, while 22-year-old young star Louis is now on the books of Belgiums Standard Liege. On the streets, in tent camps and at public plazas, where young men routinely kick around soccer balls, Haitians are debating if their team can beat Jamaica.

But Haiti needs to come up big against Jamaica whom they last defeated in 1984 in a friendly competition and in 1979 in a tournament during the Caribbean Cup, the Latin Post reported. After their victory over Honduras who qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they could be prime and ready to upset Jamaica.