Overview:
Although Les Grenadières did not have the offensive flair they portrayed in the past, the under-20 side still downed Antigua and Barbuda 3-1 in its first World Cup qualifying game. Despite not being at the top of their game in the attacking third, the young Haitian women Haiti were a joy to watch in the midfield, offensively and defensively.
Haiti’s under-20 soccer team was not at its best but still managed to crawl back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Antigua and Barbuda 3-1 in its first World Cup qualifying game at ABFA Technical Center in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda on Friday afternoon, Feb. 21.
Haiti’s starlet Lourdjina Etienne was absent due to difficulties traveling from France to Antigua and Barbuda, according to local reports. Her absence showed. Les Grenadières lacked the dynamism and flow they had in the Concacaf U-17 Championship in February 2024.
Etienne, the 2024 Concacaf U-17 top player, traveled to France for a trial with Paris Saint-Germain but was unsuccessful. She then had a tryout with Olympique Lyonnais. The 17-year-old will miss the entire first phase of the World Cup qualifiers, which is a big blow for Haiti.
Pierreline Nazon stepped up to the plate during Etienne’s absence, scoring two goals and racking one assist. Nazon scored two tap-ins in the 31st and 52nd minute. Ella Etienne scored Haiti’s first goal, steering a low shot from the 18-yard box in the 17th minute.
Etienne was on target just eight minutes after Antigua and Barbuda surprisingly opened the scoring. Djoulissa Pierre hit a weak defensive header in the ninth minute. Then, Antiguan Iressiea Allen intercepted the ball and slotted it to the left corner of the net for the 1-0 (9’) lead over the young Haitians against the round of play.
Les Grenadières lacked energy in the final third during the entire game and shot the ball poorly. They only had 37.5 percent of their shots on target. Even when some of their shots were on target, they were weak shots.
For example, Etienne took a weak shot from outside the box in the 16th minute. She then shot wide in the 19th minute and sent another attempt over the bar in the 23rd minute. Etienne was one of the standout players of the night, proving her impact by getting her name on the scoresheet.
A laborious yet well-earned comeback for the lukewarm Haiti side
Despite not being at the top of its game in the attacking third, Haiti was a joy to watch in the midfield, offensively and defensively. The Haitians pressed Antigua and Barbuda in the midfield all the way to the dying seconds of the game. For instance, as soon as an Antiguan player touched the ball in the midfield in the 85th minute, she was surrounded by multiple Haitian players and consequently lost the ball.
Offensively, the midfielders often delivered quick and intelligent forward passes. One standout midfielder for her passing skill was Brianna Crevecoeur. One of her most sublime passes was a precise through ball to Dominique Desert in the box. Desert was able to find Nazon, who scored a tap-in.
After the first round of games in the qualifiers, Haiti tops the table of Group A. In the other encounter of the group, Guyana and Belize drew 0-0.
Les Grenadières will be back in action this Sunday, Feb. 23, facing Belize at the ABFA Technical Center in St. John, Antigua and Barbuda, at 9 a.m. local time. The Concacaf FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers consist of six groups of four teams. The winners of each group will advance to the next round, where four teams will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to be held in Poland.
