GOIANIA, Brazil – A ferocious late charge from Haiti came up just short in a 2-1 defeat to South Korea in their opening match of Group B at the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil on Sunday night at the Estadio da Serrinha in Goiania.
Ji-Sung Eom earned a 1-0 lead for South Korea in the 26’ with a well-struck free kick from the right edge that curled over the head of Haiti GK Stephner Paul and into goal.
Min-Seo Choi doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 41’ by collecting a cutback pass from the left flank and sweeping in a left-footed shot to give the South Koreans a two-goal lead at the break.
Haiti continued to battle and a red card to South Korea’s Tae-Seok Lee in the 79’ opened the door for a Haiti comeback bid.
The Caribbean nation cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 88’ thanks to Carl-Fred Sainte’s long-range right-footed rocket.
Haiti then pushed for an equalizer, but were unable to find a second score.
Haiti returns to action on Wednesday against Chile.
