Haiti beats Chile, qualifies for first-ever Women’s World Cup

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Haiti beat Chile 2-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the primary time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, bringing pleasure and “a breath of fresh air” to a strife-torn homeland.

Melchie Dumornay scored twice to make sure Fifty fifth-ranked Haiti will return to the southern hemisphere in July to play in Group D of the Women’s World Cup alongside England, China and Denmark.

Haiti is the primary of three groups to qualify for the finals from a 10-team inter-continental playoff in New Zealand. Portugal will play Cameroon within the Group A playoff later Wednesday and Paraguay will play Panama Thursday for the final locations within the 32-team event which will likely be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Dumornay lately was signed by seven-time Champions League winners Lyon and confirmed why with two items of slick ending. She gained the race to a via ball from Roselord Borgella in first-half stoppage time to present Haiti a 1-0 lead on the break.

Dumornay then appeared to make the sport protected within the eighth of 11 minutes added on by the referee after Chile captain Christiane Endler had saved Nerilia Mondesir’s try from the penalty spot.

But Maria Jose Rojas scored within the eleventh minute of stoppage time to maintain Chile’s hopes alive and make the ultimate moments nerve-wracking for Haiti’s Les Grenadiers, who held on to say an historic victory.

Players shed tears of pleasure when the ultimate whistle blew, reflecting on success attained in probably the most troublesome of circumstances.

Haiti’s Les Grenadiers needed to win two matches in New Zealand to qualify for his or her first World Cup. They beat Senegal 4-0 of their opening match after which beat Thirty eighth-ranked Chile for his or her first ever win over a South American opponent.

Prior to the event midfielder Danielle Etienne informed ESPN “there’s a whole lot of unhappiness within the nation and soccer is the enjoyment.”

“Being able to qualify to the World Cup would be major,” she said at the time. “We want that for the country as a whole, to have a breath of fresh air and kind of step aside from anything going on.”