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Martinique victory leaves Haiti and Suriname to play off for third place
Martinique
Xavier Bullet 3’
1-0
Haiti
Friday, November 10, 2006 – Stade De Dillon, Martinique: In front of a boisterous large home crowd Martinique recorded their second successive one nil win to advance with automatic qualification to the finals in Trinidad with Cuba from Group I.
With the final whistle of Martinique’s 1-0 win over Haiti came incredible scenes of joy, chanting and singing from the home support. The magnitude of the efforts the players have put into ensuring their automatic qualification were not wasted on the vocal home town support.
In the end a one nil win courtesy of a diving header from Xavier Bullet in as early as the third minute of the game, after a fine run and cross by Patrick Percin, was enough to see the French West Indies side through.
Haiti tried desperately to get back into the game and only for a fine save by keeper Eddie Heurlie on 15 minutes they could have been 1-1. Haiti’s Leonel Preux was too quick for the Martinique defence and when faced one on one with Heurlie seemed odds on to score. But the defiant Heurlie saved brilliantly at the attacker’s feet to keep the score in Martinique’s favor.
Heurlie and Martinique were very fortunate not to have lost a goal only 4 minutes later when a superb left wing cross by Jacques Jamil ran straight across the Martinique goal to the lone Haiti striker Alexandre Boucicaut at the back post. Unfortunately for Haiti and their large fan base present at the Stade de Dillon, his shot went straight into the side netting when it seemed easier to score.
Haiti did come out in the second half in a more decisive mood but they could find no way past a heroic Martinique keeper in Heurlie and indeed as a consequence of pushing forward were fortunate not to concede a second in the dying moments as Martinique exploited their break away counter attacks.
In the end 1-0 was enough to see Martinique advance from Group I and leave Haiti with a massive game on Sunday against Suriname to decide the third placed position who will qualify to the 3 team final qualifying group of the Digicel Caribbean Cup in December
Martinique: Eddy Heurlie, Joan Deluge, Patrick Percin, Rodrigue Audel, Audrick Linord, Steeve Gustan, Jose Goron (Johan Clemencia), Danielle Herelle (Daniel Herelle), Stephane Suedile, Xavier Bullet (Yannick Ancarno), Steve Melien
Haiti: Fenelon Gabart, Parnel Guerrier, Germain Peter, Guillaume Stephane, Roosevelt Desir (Decius Dumel), Jean Baptiste Fritzson, JM Boucicaut, Leonel Preux (Eliphene Cadet), Pierre Bruny, Raymond Ednelson, Jacques Jamil (Jean Alcenat),
For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com
ENDS
About Digicel
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. In five years, Digicel has become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. It is the largest GSM operator in the region.
By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting edge of wireless communications.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and has operations in twenty markets, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago & Turks & Caicos. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths and expects further significant growth.
The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup,
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