Haiti Make Country Proud in Group C Thriller
- Timothy Belin
- Jun 26
- 4 min read
Credit Sky Sports
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Haiti were the first team eliminated from this year’s World Cup, but that did not prevent them playing an absolute thriller in their final game on the world stage.
Facing a Morocco team ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, the island nation twice took the lead to give them a fright.
Only 10 minutes into the game, Haiti shocked the world of soccer by taking a surprise lead. Jean-Kévin Duverne showed a great burst of pace to get past his man down the right, and his low cross was redirected on goal by Lenny Joseph with a clever backheel flick. The final touch came off of goalkeeper Yassine Bono, making it an own-goal, but the technicality could hardly have mattered less for a team that had scored their first World Cup goal since 1974.
Morocco looked to hit back immediately, and a mishit cross nearly did so just two minutes later. Johny Placide was alert between the sticks to deflect it out for a corner for his first intervention of the game.
One minute later, Ismael Saibiri should have levelled the game. Bilal El Khannouss showed good skill to dribble into the box, and the winger cut it back to Saibari on the edge of the six-yard box. Despite scoring in Morocco’s first two World Cup games, the PSV-man skied the effort well over the bar.
Saibari tried to make up for it 10 minutes later with a fierce strike from distance, but Placide did well to tip it wide. The 38-year-old goalkeeper then produced a remarkable double-save on the half-hour mark to maintain his clean sheet, the first with his feet off Achraf Hakimi, the second at full stretch to deny El Khannouss.
Despite Haiti’s heroic backline efforts, Morocco finally equalized in the 39th minute.
A cross from the left took an initial deflection off a Haiti defender, and Placide had to make a flying save to tip it away from goal. Unfortunately for the shot stopper, he could not get the direction he wanted and it fell back in front of the goal where Hakimi bundled it in.
Haiti could easily have fallen away after the setback, but instead responded by taking their second lead of the night.
Just four minutes after Hakimi levelled matters, Wilson Isidor restored his nation’s advantage with a goal-of-the-tournament contender. The Sunderland forward picked up a cleared ball well outside the box and took one touch to set himself up before blasting a rocket into the back of the net. The ball flew across goal, past a completely stranded Bono and nestled into the Moroccan keeper’s top corner.
After failing to score in their first two games, Haiti had two in a single half. They also took their second lead of the night over a Morocco team that had yet to trail at this year’s tournament, and doubled their all-time goals scored at World Cups following their two in 1974.
Once again, however, the drama was not over. Morocco hit back just as the clock ticked into first-half stoppage time, with Saibari making no mistake this time around. The midfielder arrived late at the top of the box and made simple work slotting home Hakimi’s cutback cross.
Morocco nearly took the lead two minutes later, but Brahim Diaz’s shot curled away from goal at the final moment.
With 15 minutes for both sides to take a breather after a frenetic end to the first period, the second started a bit more controlled. Morocco looked to slow the game down and showed more patience on the ball to limit Haiti’s opportunities on the counter. The tactic was not without risk, however, as Haiti’s resolute defense did a great job keeping them at bay for over half an hour.
Only in the 78th minute did Morocco finally take the lead for the first time. A corner from the right side made its way to Soufiane Rahimi after a slight deflection, and the substitute spinned on the spot to send a shot just inside of Placide’s far post.
After 80 minutes of intense effort to try and get their first-ever World Cup point, Haiti faltered following the go-ahead goal. Morocco had a couple more chances, including a Hakimi free-kick tipped just over the bar, before getting a fourth just before stoppage time.
Rahimi was the provider this time, keeping the ball in when many thought it had gone out. While some in Haiti colors briefly stopped, expecgting the referee’s whistle, Morocco’s Gessime Yassine was one of the few players who kept going. Rahimi squared it to him for an easy tap-in at the far post, and though Haiti protested that the ball had crossed the line, a VAR check confirmed Rahimi had kept it in.
Haiti tried for one more goal in the final minute of stoppage time. Duckens Nazon sent a powerful free kick on target, but Bono pulled off a great stop to keep it out.
Haiti exit the tournament still seeking their first-ever World Cup point, but the island nation will no doubt have made plenty of people proud back home. For Morocco, it’s on to the Round of 32 as Group C’s second-place team. As such, they will face the winner of Group F on June 29 in Guadalupe.
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