Haiti shatters Mexican hopes on a hot and stormy evening in Monterrey
July 8 – Haiti scored three goals against Mexico to set up a winner-takes-all final group clash with Jamaica for automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
It was an exciting game but a miserable night for a Mexican side that promised so much but ended up going goalless in two games.
The sun may have set at kickoff, but the heat was high and the temperature was about to rise with two teams that weren't afraid to get physical and both needed a victory to remain in contention for the World Cup. p>
Mexican coach Monica Vergara made four changes to the starting XI which lost by one goal to Jamaica while Haitian coach Nicolas Delphine remained confident in his outfield which started in the 3- 0 against the United States, changing only their goalkeeper, bringing in Nahomie Ambroise.
Haiti started the strongest with attacking midfielder Melchie Dumorney dominating the center of the field. Mexico's response was in the form Maria Sanchez on the left caused all sorts of trouble for Haiti's right side.
It was Dumorney who seemed most likely to break the deadlock. Brought in by Rebeca Bernal just outside the box, she fired her own free-kick into the wall. She then had a header recovered by Mexican keeper Emily Alvarado.
At 12 minutes came the breakthrough for Haiti. Mexican Mayor Stephany knocked Batcheba Louis into the box. The ref pointed the spot and Roselord Borgella fired home to give Haiti the lead.
Haiti was on the rise and in the 28th minute, Haiti and Borgella seemed to have scored a second. Louis' head was saved by Alvarado only to fall on Borgella who sent it back through Alvarado's legs. The linesman signaled a foul, the referee asked VAR, the goal was scored. It seemed like a controversial decision.
Mexico started to come back into the game. In the 37th minute and after a pressing, Sanchez was knocked down at the edge of the area. Bernal fired into the wall and Sanchez hit the rebound wide - it was wasteful and the closest Mexico had been to mounting a real threat on Haiti's goal.
Mexico ended the half with possession but despite their warm-up play and use of the wings, their goal threats lacked conviction.
Vergara changed his line-up at half-time, bringing in Alicia Cervantes as centre-forward with
Katty Martinez goes a little lower. Martinez started to find more space and had a shot from outside the box easily collected by Ambroise before scooping another over the bar. Mexico closed in but struggled to find that finishing touch in front of goal as scrum after scrum was blocked or cleared by the Haitians.
Then in the 65th minute, disaster struck the Mexicans. Dumornay put in Nerilia Mondesir who was knocked down by Alvarado. Mondesir calmly scored a goal in Haiti at two, this time against the run of play.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Mexico. In the 75th minute, Greta Espinosa was sent off for knocking Dumornay down just outside the box. Sherly Jeudy stepped in to wrap the free kick past Alvarado to make it 3-0.
Mexico must now salvage some pride from an American side that looked unassailable in their opening two matches.
Continued...
July 8 – Haiti scored three goals against Mexico to set up a winner-takes-all final group clash with Jamaica for automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
It was an exciting game but a miserable night for a Mexican side that promised so much but ended up going goalless in two games.
The sun may have set at kickoff, but the heat was high and the temperature was about to rise with two teams that weren't afraid to get physical and both needed a victory to remain in contention for the World Cup. p>
Mexican coach Monica Vergara made four changes to the starting XI which lost by one goal to Jamaica while Haitian coach Nicolas Delphine remained confident in his outfield which started in the 3- 0 against the United States, changing only their goalkeeper, bringing in Nahomie Ambroise.
Haiti started the strongest with attacking midfielder Melchie Dumorney dominating the center of the field. Mexico's response was in the form Maria Sanchez on the left caused all sorts of trouble for Haiti's right side.
It was Dumorney who seemed most likely to break the deadlock. Brought in by Rebeca Bernal just outside the box, she fired her own free-kick into the wall. She then had a header recovered by Mexican keeper Emily Alvarado.
At 12 minutes came the breakthrough for Haiti. Mexican Mayor Stephany knocked Batcheba Louis into the box. The ref pointed the spot and Roselord Borgella fired home to give Haiti the lead.
Haiti was on the rise and in the 28th minute, Haiti and Borgella seemed to have scored a second. Louis' head was saved by Alvarado only to fall on Borgella who sent it back through Alvarado's legs. The linesman signaled a foul, the referee asked VAR, the goal was scored. It seemed like a controversial decision.
Mexico started to come back into the game. In the 37th minute and after a pressing, Sanchez was knocked down at the edge of the area. Bernal fired into the wall and Sanchez hit the rebound wide - it was wasteful and the closest Mexico had been to mounting a real threat on Haiti's goal.
Mexico ended the half with possession but despite their warm-up play and use of the wings, their goal threats lacked conviction.
Vergara changed his line-up at half-time, bringing in Alicia Cervantes as centre-forward with
Katty Martinez goes a little lower. Martinez started to find more space and had a shot from outside the box easily collected by Ambroise before scooping another over the bar. Mexico closed in but struggled to find that finishing touch in front of goal as scrum after scrum was blocked or cleared by the Haitians.
Then in the 65th minute, disaster struck the Mexicans. Dumornay put in Nerilia Mondesir who was knocked down by Alvarado. Mondesir calmly scored a goal in Haiti at two, this time against the run of play.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Mexico. In the 75th minute, Greta Espinosa was sent off for knocking Dumornay down just outside the box. Sherly Jeudy stepped in to wrap the free kick past Alvarado to make it 3-0.
Mexico must now salvage some pride from an American side that looked unassailable in their opening two matches.
Continued...
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