PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Haiti blanked Puerto Rico 2-0 to top Group G in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Saturday.

The victory put Haiti in the final round of qualifiers and also ensured they advanced to the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico in July.

Going into the match, Haiti needed just a draw to top the four-team group while Puerto Rico needed a victory to secure a final round berth as they had already qualified for the CAC Games by virtue of being the hosts.

After starting the better of both teams, Haiti went ahead in the 15th minute through Addline Faintilmond but had to wait until three minutes from full-time to seal victory thanks to a strike from Manoucheka Pierre-Louis.

With the win, Haiti ended with maximum nine points, three ahead of
Cuba, who whipped Antigua & Barbuda, 6-1 in Saturday’s other match to finish second and also book a spot in the final round.

With only three teams securing places to the CAC Games due to Puerto Rico involvement in the competition, the two group winners and best second team earned spots.

While T&T and Haiti booked their places in the CAC Games as group winners, Guyana, who ended second to the hosts in Group F, qualified due to a better goal-difference than Cuba.

Cuba will join T&T, Haiti and Guyana in the four-team final round qualifiers from which the top three teams will advance to CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup scheduled for October.