INJURY-HIT BARBADOS suffered a setback in their quest for a spot in this year’s eight-team Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Cup finals when the senior side lost 4-2 to host country Haiti in their Group 8 match at the Sylvio Cator Stadium on Friday night.
Barbados were forced to make three changes to Wednesday’s winning starting line-up against St Kitts-Nevis.
Captain Rommell Burgess and rookie left wing back Ramon Manning were unable to play through injury while midfielder Romario Harewood was ruled out after receiving a second yellow card.
The void was filled by Ricardio Morris, Ranaldo Marques and Jamal Chandler while Luis Moss was shifted from midfield to left back.
After an action-packed first half in which Barbados squandered at least four goal-scoring opportunities, Haiti led 3-2.
Kervens Belfort gave Haiti the lead after just three minutes and Wilde Guerrier made it 2-0 in the 27th minute before Mario Harte pulled back a goal for the Bajan Tridents.
Harte won the ball from his marker and dribbled an approaching defender, before slotting home.
Guerrier restored Haiti’s two-goal lead in the 43rd minute but the home team conceded an own goal, failing to head away a cross by Jamal Chandler.
A thunderstorm during the interval, held up play for about 90 minutes and on resumption, Jean Alcenat sealed the outcome for Haiti with a 67th minute strike.
The victory carried the Haitians to the top of the standings in the group with four points.
In the preceding match, St Kitts-Nevis edged French Guiana 2-1 to join Barbados on three points.
French Guiana are at the bottom on just one, earned from a 2-2 with Haiti on Wednesday.
The Bajan Tridents will now face today French Guiana in their final game at 5 p.m. but they will be without Arantees Lawrence, the two-goal hero against St Kitts-Nevis, who is on a one-game suspension for two bookable offences.
Haiti and St Kitts-Nevis will meet in the final game at 7:30 p.m.
The top two teams in the group will advance to next month’s finals in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (EZS)
