Dumornay brace qualifies Haiti for first Women’s World Cup

MIAMI, Florida – Haiti is now synonymous with history, as they won Group B of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win over Chile on Wednesday at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, qualifying for their first major tournament on the strength of a brace from Melchie Dumornay.

Haiti become the fifth Concacaf team to be present in Australia/New Zealand, joining the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Jamaica. Haiti are also just the second team from the Caribbean to qualify for a Women’s World Cup and will be slotted into Group D with England, Denmark and China.

The first big chance of the game came for the South American side in the 12’, but a dangerous ball proved to be no problem for Haiti GK Kerly Theus.

It was Haiti who took advantage of the best scoring chance of the first half, in the 45+1’.  Showing why she is one of the rising stars in women’s football, Dumornay played a quick one-two combination with Roselord Borgella before beating a Chile defender to win the ball and striking it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Haiti lead.

Les Grenadieres had a chance to extend their lead again in the 45+2’, as Borgella had her own chance, controlling a long pass from the middle of the pitch, but she her shot sliced wide.

Haiti started the second half strong, with another goal almost in the 46’, with Borgella leaving the defensive line behind and passing to captain Nerilia Mondesir, who was not able to finish the play.

In the 86’, after a VAR review, the referee called a penalty for Haiti for a foul in the area. The always ready Mondesir took the ball, but Chile Captain and GK Christiane Endler, considered one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, denied her shot and kept Haiti from adding their second goal of the day.

The drama only increased as play continued into second half stoppage time. Haiti were able to double their lead in the 90+8’, as Dumornay again displayed her skill, getting an assist from Mondesir, firing the ball across goal to make it 2-0. 

Chile did not back down and pulled a goal back, 2-1, in the 90+11’ from the boots of Maria Jose Rojas.

In the end, though, it wasn’t enough for Chile, and with two goals from Dumornay, Haiti celebrated their first ever Women’s World Cup qualification.