HOUSTON, Texas, CMC – Israel-based forward Frantzdy Pierrot scored deep in stoppage time as Haiti came from a goal down to beat Qatar 2-1 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup here Sunday night.
The French Caribbean side fell behind to Yusuf Abdurisag’s 20th minute predatory strike but managed to equalise on the stroke of half-time through veteran Duckens Nazon.
With the game seemingly headed for a stalemate at the NRG Stadium, the 28-year-old Pierrot, who plays for Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League, poked home from close range in the seventh of nine added minutes, to hand Haiti a sensational opening win in Group B.
In the other fixture in the group at the same venue, powerhouses Mexico thrashed Honduras 4-0 with Luis Romo scoring twice in the first half.
Both sides had chances before Qatar went ahead. Goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre came out and cleared from the feet of Mostafa Mashal but a loose ball resulted and Abdurisag pounced to volley into an empty net from 15 yards.
Haiti missed a couple of half chances and the Asia Cup champions also came close but the Haitians drew level from the penalty spot when Pierrot lashed a shot against Tarek Salman’s outstretched arm in the area, and Nazon sent goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham the other way.
Derrick Etienne Jr struck the post in the 52nd minute, Ricardo Adé drove his 19-yard free kick straight at Barsham in the 62nd minute before the upright also denied Abdurisag in the 76th minute.
With time ticking away, Carnejy Antoine raced onto a ball out of the back and squared from the left for Pierrot, who eluded Salman’s challenge to nudge home from close range.
