Costa Rica falls to Haiti, finishes second in Group B

Costa Rica faltered in the second half and fell, 2-1, to Haiti on Monday in the final Group B match of the 2019 Gold Cup.

The result earns Haiti first place in the group — marking the first time in its history that the Caribbean nation has won its Gold Cup group. While La Sele had already qualified to the tournament quarterfinals, Costa Rica’s second-place finish creates a more difficult matchup against Mexico.

Haiti was the stronger team after halftime and was rewarded with a 57th-minute penalty kick, which Duckens Nazon converted.

Several saves from Tico goalkeeper Leonel Moreira — including a full-stretch stop on a Nazon effort – kept Costa Rica’s first-place hopes afloat, but Djimy-Bend Alexis pounced on a missed clearance in the 81^st minute to deliver Haiti the decisive lead.

Goal Haiti 🇭🇹 !!!! Djimy-Bend Alexis redeemes himself after the own goal and puts Haiti ahead against Costa Rica! #HAIvCRC #ThisIsOurs #GoldCup2019 @fhfhaiti pic.twitter.com/WerplDcFRi

— Gold Cup 2019 (@GoldCup) June 25, 2019

Costa Rica had enjoyed a comfortable first half, and La Sele’s pressure paid off in the form of a 13^th-minute own-goal after a header from striker Alvaro Saborío.

¡Gol de Costa Rica 🇨🇷 ! Confusión en el fondo de @FHFHaiti y Djimy-Bend Alexis marcó en propria meta. Los Ticos ganan 1-0 en @redbullarena. #HAIvCRC #GoldCup2019 #ThisIsOurs pic.twitter.com/matllq6HyM

— Gold Cup 2019 (@GoldCup) June 25, 2019

But Haiti demonstrated its superiority in the second half, sending La Sele reeling into Saturday’s meeting against Mexico at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

🇭🇹 @fhfhaiti Qualifies as 1st place in Group B! #HAIvCRC #ThisIsOurs #GoldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/qBcquldIJX

— Gold Cup 2019 (@GoldCup) June 25, 2019