FRISCO, Texas (CMC) – A goal four minutes from time helped French Caribbean side, Haiti, snatch a share of the points against Panama in a dramatic finish to their opening Group A game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup here Tuesday.Haiti seemed headed to defeat following Alberto Quintero’s 55th minute conversion but the 21-year-old Duckens Nazon produced a lovely piece of skill with time ticking away to finish from close range, and send his side into celebration.
In the second game of the double-header at Toyota Stadium, Clint Dempsey scored twice as defending champions, the United States, beat Honduras 2-1.
Dempsey, the former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspurs front-man, struck in the 25th minute when he headed in a rebound to give the U.S. an early lead.
He was on target again in the 64th minute with another header, putting in Michael Bradley’s free kick, as the hosts took control of the game.
Carlos Discua came off the bench four minutes later to pull one back for Honduras who then failed to find an equaliser.
Earlier, both Haiti and Panama squandered chances to take full honours from the contest, and the game went to the half-time whistle locked nil-all.
Ten minutes after resumption, however, Quintero found the back of the nets after defender Reginal Goreux made a hash of a clearance.
Blas Perez came close to a second for Panama on 72 minutes before Nazon spoiled their party, skipping free of his marker and producing a low shoot from eight yards out to beat the goalkeeper.
In their next game tomorrow, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Haiti clash with the U.S. while Panama face Honduras.