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ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – French Guiana upset Haiti 1-0 while Grenada eliminated Guyana with an exciting 2-1 win in Group Six of the Caribbean Cup semi-final qualifiers on Friday night at the National Stadium here. Gary Emmanuel stunned the Haitians with a 55th minute goal to push French Guiana within sight of qualifying for the finals in Antigua next month.
Emmanuel, who scored an injury-time goal in his side’s 1-1 draw with Grenada on Wednesday, fired to the right of goalkeeper Jhony Placide after a solo run through the Haitian defence.
French Guiana then found themselves having to fight off a series of raids as their French-speaking counterparts worked hard for an equaliser.
They lived dangerously in the latter stages of the game as shots hit the crossbar and edged the goal post but they held on to throw a damper on Haiti’s chances of qualifying.
French Guiana, with four points, Haiti on three and hosts Grenada on four points, are now the only teams with any chance of advancing.
Grenada and Guyana, meanwhile, played to a goalless first half with the hosts squandering about three clear chances to convert.
Kithson Bain put Grenada ahead in the first minute of an explosive second half played in front of more than 2 000 spectators, including a handful of Guyanese living in Grenada.
Bain, a striker for the Carolina Railhawks in the North American Soccer League, rifled a shot past goalkeeper Derrick Carter from inside the box after a brilliant through pass from the England-based Anthony Straker.
A minute later Guyana equalised from the boots of the unmarked Daniel Wilson who picked up a loose ball from close to the penalty spot and fired home.
Guyana squandered a wonderful chance to extend their lead midway the second half as Walter Moore’s shot from six yards out went wide, in what was a spell of competitive and exciting football.
But it was the Thailand-based striker Clive Murray who found the winner for Grenada nine minutes from the end of regulation time when he chipped a ball beyond the reach of Carter after accepting a pass from Bradley Bubb who campaigns for English League Two club Aldershot Town.
Grenada play Haiti and French Guiana take on Guyana in the final set of matches today..
Emmanuel, who scored an injury-time goal in his side’s 1-1 draw with Grenada on Wednesday, fired to the right of goalkeeper Jhony Placide after a solo run through the Haitian defence.
French Guiana then found themselves having to fight off a series of raids as their French-speaking counterparts worked hard for an equaliser.
They lived dangerously in the latter stages of the game as shots hit the crossbar and edged the goal post but they held on to throw a damper on Haiti’s chances of qualifying.
French Guiana, with four points, Haiti on three and hosts Grenada on four points, are now the only teams with any chance of advancing.
Grenada and Guyana, meanwhile, played to a goalless first half with the hosts squandering about three clear chances to convert.
Kithson Bain put Grenada ahead in the first minute of an explosive second half played in front of more than 2 000 spectators, including a handful of Guyanese living in Grenada.
Bain, a striker for the Carolina Railhawks in the North American Soccer League, rifled a shot past goalkeeper Derrick Carter from inside the box after a brilliant through pass from the England-based Anthony Straker.
A minute later Guyana equalised from the boots of the unmarked Daniel Wilson who picked up a loose ball from close to the penalty spot and fired home.
Guyana squandered a wonderful chance to extend their lead midway the second half as Walter Moore’s shot from six yards out went wide, in what was a spell of competitive and exciting football.
But it was the Thailand-based striker Clive Murray who found the winner for Grenada nine minutes from the end of regulation time when he chipped a ball beyond the reach of Carter after accepting a pass from Bradley Bubb who campaigns for English League Two club Aldershot Town.
Grenada play Haiti and French Guiana take on Guyana in the final set of matches today..
