MIAMI, Florida – Fans witnessed history on Saturday evening, when Haiti made their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut as the second Caribbean nation to do so against England at the Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, the game ending with a 1-0 win for the Europeans in Group D play.
Despite the defeat, it was a positive performance from Haiti in their first ever Women’s World Cup match and they were bolstered by the play of GK Kerly Theus, who made 10 saves.
Haiti started strong and in the 14’ FW Roselord Borgella had the first chance for goal, receiving a ball from FW Melchie Dumornay, who controlled it through England’s midfield, but the shot went wide of the post.
In the 16’, VAR went into action for a possible penalty after Haiti MF Dayana Pierre-Louis committed a foul on England FW Chole Kelly in the area. However, it was called off due to a previous foul by FW Alessia Russo on DF Tabita Joseph.
There was VAR action again in the 27’ when Haiti MF Batcheba Louis committed a handball in the area, the referee calling a penalty for England. FW Georgia Stanway took the ball to give her team the lead, but Theus denied her chance.
However, Theus was off her line and so the penalty was repeated. On her second attempt, Stanway in the 29’ scored the first goal for the Lionesses for a 1-0 advantage.
Haiti looked to respond in the second half and Dumornay tried to surprise England GK Mary Earps in the 50’, with an outside the area banger after stealing the ball from DF Lucy Bronze, but Earps was up to the task and stopped the attempted equalizer.
The last chance for Haiti to level up the game came in the 81’ when MF Roseline Eloissaint got into the box and tried a low shot that would have scored if it wasn’t for Earps, who made a vital save with her left leg to nail down her team’s 1-0 victory.
Haiti return to action on Tuesday against Denmark at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia.