MIAMI, Florida – Nerilia Mondesir scored in the second half to lead Haiti to a 1-0 victory against Costa Rica to open Group C of League A of the Road to W Gold Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
This match-up between two 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup sides was expectantly very tight, beginning with a first half that saw Haiti mostly in control, as they outshot the visiting Ticas 8-2, but nothing that posed major trouble.
The best chance of the first 45 minutes for the home side came in the 34’ when Batcheba Louis swung a shot wide after a nice cross from Roseline Eloissant.
Costa Rica also had a decent look at goal shortly before halftime through veteran playmaker Raquel Rodriguez, only to see her free kick from long-range tail off to the right.
Haiti kept after it and Sherly Jeudy nearly got the game’s first goal on a powerful right-footed shot in the 47’.
The breakthrough came in the 70’, as Haiti broke forward and Nerilia Mondesir polished off a slick one-two combination with Roselord Borgella with a sweeping right-footed finish into net for a 1-0 Haiti lead.
The Haitian defense took over after that, keeping Costa Rica at bay until the final whistle.
