Posted Saturday November 23, 2002

Haiti beats the Netherlands Antilles 3-0, qualifies for Group D Gold Cup soccer competition  

By Michael Norton, Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 22 - Haiti defeated the Netherlands Antilles 3-0 Friday, qualifying for the Caribbean Football Union Gold Cup Group D soccer competition.

Haiti missed several opportunities to score but, with goals from striker Rudy Lomera in the 3rd minute and from defender Frantz Gilles in the 44th, clearly dominated the field in the first half of the match.

With striker Jean-Robert Menilas scoring in the 76th minute, the weak Haitian eleven sealed its victory over the even weaker Netherlands Antilles team.

Haiti defeated Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 Monday. Antigua and Barbuda tied the Netherlands Antilles 1-1 Wednesday.

Haiti and Antigua and Barbuda, the two top teams of this week's three-match tournament, will advance to the final qualification round next April at a venue still to be announced.

The Gold Cup is played by the top soccer teams in the CONCACAF region, which includes North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The Gold Cup kicks off in the United States in July. (mn-fg)

Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. 

                                                                                                                                                                                         Posted Tuesday November 19, 2002

Haiti defeats Antigua and Barbuda in Gold Cup qualification round

By Michael Norton, Associated Press Writer

PORT OF PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 18 - Haiti defeated Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 on Monday in the Caribbean Football Union Gold Cup group D qualification tournament.

A light rain fell on the downtown Silvio Cator stadium for the first 15 minutes of the first half. Few Haitian fans attended the match, and Haiti lost the psychological edge of the home game. Most soccer pundits predicted Haiti would easily defeat Antigua, but at half time neither team had scored.

Playing on a muddy field in the 46th minute, Haiti finally imposed itself on Antigua and Barbuda with a goal from 20-year-old striker Rudy Lomera. Antigua and Barbuda will meet the Netherlands Antilles on Wednesday in the three-match competition.

Haiti will meet the Netherlands Antilles Friday, and the two top teams will advance to the final qualification round next April at a venue still to be announced.

The Gold Cup is played by the top soccer teams in the CONCACAF region, which includes North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Gold Cup kicks off in the United States in July.

Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press.

                                                                                                                                                                                  Canada pasts the U.S. in soccer championship

By The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 17 (AP) - Iain Hume scored two goals to lead Canada past the U.S. 3-2 on Sunday and into the under-20 world championships next year.

The U.S. qualified for the 2003 championships at United Arab Emirates on Friday after victories over Haiti and El Salvador.

Hume scored in the 55th minute on a pass from Kevin Harmse. Chris Lemire added another goal in the 70th minute when he stole the ball deep in U.S. territory. Hume put Canada up 3-0 a minute later on a back-heel pass from Wyn Belotte.

Frank Simek and Bobby Convey scored within three minutes of each other to make it 3-2, but the U.S. rally fell short.

Haiti, which beat El Salvador 2-1 on Sunday and tied Canada on Friday, had hoped for an American sweep to qualify.

Instead, Canada won the CONCACAF Group B while Haiti and El Salvador were eliminated.

Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press

                                                                                                                                                                                        United States, Canada progress in CONCACAF

By The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, Nov. 14 - The United States beat Haiti 2-0 and Canada got past El Salvador (news - web sites) 2-0 in the qualifying round of the CONCACAF Under-20 qualifying matches Wednesday.

The United States lost its most experienced player before the match even began. An hour before, team captain Bobby Convey was ruled ineligible because his passport didn't arrive from his home in Washington, D.C. CONCACAF requires a passport to prove a player's age.

U.S. Soccer will try to get Convey a replacement passport Thursday in Charleston.

Eddie Johnson, who plays for Major League Soccer's Dallas Burn, scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the United States to the win.

Canada got goals from Elliott Godfrey and Wyn Belotte in its 2-0 shutout of El Salvador. Godfrey scored in the 46th minute on an assist from Waldemar Dutra, while Belotte added another goal in the 54th minute off a pass from Josh Simpson.

The United States moves on to face El Salvador on Friday. Canada plays Haiti at in the round-robin event, as the four teams continue to battle for two spots in the 2003 worlds in the United Arab Emirates.

Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press.