Short-handed Haiti missed out on a golden opportunity to break a late second-half tie against Trinidad & Tobago, then had to settle for a 1-1 draw on Thursday in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D match at Houston.
Team USA beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in a later match Thursday. Haiti plays the U.S. as group play concludes Sunday, and Saudi Arabia faces Trinidad & Tobago. Team USA (2-0-0, 6 points) leads Group D, Saudi Arabia (1-1-0, 3 points) is second and Haiti (0-1-1, 1 point) and Trinidad & Tobago (0-1-1, 1 point) are tied for last.
After Haiti’s Wilguens Paugain was taken down in the penalty area by Andre Raymond in the 83rd minute, Mondy Prunier put the penalty kick high over the crossbar in the 86th minute.
Trailing 1-0 in the second half and down to 10 men after Jean-Kevin Duverne was shown a straight red card in the 39th minute, Haiti (0-1-1, 1 point) pulled even in the 68th minute. On a set piece, Justin Garcia headed in a cross to the top left corner from Kevin Molino on a free kick.
Trinidad & Tobago (0-1-1, 1 point) broke a scoreless tie in the 49th minute. From the right side of the 6-yard box, Frantzdy Pierro scored with an assist from Louicius Deedson.
Haiti finished with the edge in shots on goal (3-2) and shot attempts (16-9).
Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip notched two saves, one more than Johny Placide, his counterpart for Haiti.
–Field Level Media
