CONCACAF Nations League 2022/2023: Haiti scores 6 to punish Jags again

Guyana’s Golden Jaguars had hoped for an improvement of their fortunes on Tuesday evening when they again played against Haiti, opponents who had humiliated them in Guyana a few nights prior; but not much was different in this encounter, except that while they were able to keep it tidy in the first half, their second half play was a disaster.

Playing at the Olimpico Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Golden Jaguars went from being one down at the half to succumbing to a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Grenadiers, in a game that was a must-win if they were to finish at the top of Group B, League B, of the CONCACAF Nations League 2022/2023.
Guyana’s starting lineup looked starkly different from their last game in the Land of Many Waters, with the most notable changes being those of the captain and the man in the nets. Akel Clarke got the nod to don the gloves, while the experienced Neil Danns took charge on the field.
Jeremy Garrett and Kelsey Benjamin finally got a start, alongside Leo Lovell, Samuel Cox, Quincy Adams, Torell Ondaan, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Stephen Duke-McKenna and Emery Welshman.
Surprisingly, Guyana’s Golden Boy Omari Glasgow was on the bench, as was Trayon Bobb.
In spite of whatever personal thoughts that may prevail about Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s starting team, they did well to hold off the Haitians for most of the first half. It was only by way of an infraction did Haiti set the foundation for their first goal.
Taking the free kick was Derrick Etienne Jr, but taking a shot off the rebound for the goal was Alex Christian, giving Haiti the advantage in the 39th.
Given that the score was 5-2 at the same juncture in their previous encounter, Guyana could say their first half was well executed.
At the top of the second, Kelsey Benjamin picked up a yellow card, and minutes later, Mondy Prunier netted Haiti’s second. Then the unthinkable happened for Guyana: the victim of another yellow card call, Benjamin was out on a red, and Guyana were down to 10 men.
With their captain also now on the bench, Haiti opened the flood gates against the Golden Jaguars. Simonsen Jeppe Friborg made it a 3-0 game, and one minute later, in the 64th, the pair of Glasgow and Bobb were entering the game in place of Ondaan and Cox.
Prunier added Haiti’s fourth goal in the 76th, while Carnejy Antoine (87th, 89th) stunned Guyana with a brace in the final minutes of the game to worsen the blow on the Golden Jaguars.
The Golden Jaguars will now look to their two remaining Group B matches in 2023 in order to seal a spot in the qualification round of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, at best. But in order to do so,
the Golden Jaguars would need to win their home and away games against Montserrat and Bermuda, whom they have already defeated.