Haiti delivered one of its most convincing performances in recent years, defeating New Zealand 4–0 in a World Cup preparation friendly at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The victory was particularly impressive because New Zealand had qualified for the 2026 World Cup and arrived expecting a competitive test. Instead, Les Grenadiers controlled the match and exposed numerous weaknesses in the All Whites’ defense.
Table of Contents
Final Score
Haiti 4 – 0 New Zealand
Goals
- Ruben Providence (12′)
- Lenny Joseph (51′)
- Frantzdy Pierrot (62′)
- Markhus Lacroix (87′)
First Half Analysis
Haiti started aggressively and looked sharper from the opening whistle. Ruben Providence opened the scoring in the 12th minute after capitalizing on defensive confusion between goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and defender Finn Surman. The goal immediately shifted momentum in Haiti’s favor.
New Zealand’s best opportunity came from captain Chris Wood, whose bicycle kick was brilliantly saved by veteran Haitian goalkeeper Jhony Placide. That save proved to be a turning point, preventing New Zealand from equalizing and giving Haiti confidence to continue attacking.
Second Half Dominance
The second half belonged entirely to Haiti.
Lenny Joseph doubled the lead shortly after the restart with a composed finish following a perfectly timed run behind the New Zealand defense. Haiti continued to exploit spaces on the counterattack, and Frantzdy Pierrot added a third goal with a powerful header from close range.
The highlight of the night came in the 87th minute when Markhus Lacroix unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that flew into the corner of the net, sending the Haitian supporters into celebration.
Haiti’s Standout Performers
Frantzdy Pierrot
A constant aerial threat and clinical finisher. His goal rewarded an excellent all-around performance.
Ruben Providence
Opened the scoring and consistently troubled New Zealand’s back line with his movement and technical ability.
Jhony Placide
Made the key save on Chris Wood’s bicycle kick and organized the defense superbly.
Lenny Joseph
Brought energy off the bench and effectively put the match out of reach.
Tactical Takeaways
What Haiti Did Well
- Excellent defensive organization.
- Quick transitions from defense to attack.
- Clinical finishing in front of goal.
- Strong physical and aerial presence.
- High energy and intensity throughout the match.
Areas Still to Improve
- Possession phases can still become rushed.
- Better control against elite teams will be necessary.
- Midfield creativity remains an area to develop against stronger opponents.
What This Means for Haiti
This result sends a strong message ahead of Haiti’s historic return to the FIFA World Cup after a 52-year absence. While friendlies should never be overvalued, the manner of the victory was encouraging. Haiti looked organized, confident, and dangerous in attack while maintaining defensive discipline.
Coach Sébastien Migné will be particularly pleased that the team scored four goals against a fellow World Cup participant and kept a clean sheet.
For Haitian supporters, this was more than just a friendly win—it was a glimpse of what Les Grenadiers could achieve on the world’s biggest stage. 🇭🇹
Match Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Attack | 9/10 |
| Midfield | 8/10 |
| Defense | 9/10 |
| Goalkeeping | 8.5/10 |
| Overall Team Performance | 9/10 |
Man of the Match: Ruben Providence
Haiti now carries significant momentum into its final preparations for the World Cup, and performances like this suggest that Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland should not underestimate Les Grenadiers.
Author: Opinions509
People can ask you to keep your mouth shut, but does that not keep you from having your own opinion.
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