- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Haiti's James St. Tyr (right) dribbles the ball, while St. Lucia's Jarvin Skeete looks to make a tackle during their Digicel Caribbean Cup match at the National Stadium yesterday. Haiti won 7-1.

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Red-hot Haiti will now set their eyes on toppling the defending champions Reggae Boyz in their final fixture of the Digicel Caribbean Cup Group D, after a second straight impressive result, a 7-1 thrashing of winless St. Lucia at the National Stadium yesterday.

"Jamaica and Haiti have been two of the best teams in the Caribbean, but lately Jamaica have been getting the better of Haiti, Sunday's game will be for pride," said Carlos Marcelin, coach of a surging Haiti team who have already qualified for the next round by virtue of their second straight win.

"You love to give your friends a good football game, but we'd love to get that win against Jamaica," added Marcelin, who has now seen his team slam in an impressive 11 goals in two games.

Jacques Jean Jamil and Jean Baptiste Fritzson had two goals each in the encounter Haiti dominated from the opening whistle. Haiti snatched the lead as early as the fourth minute through Jamil.

St. Lucia's Perry-John Joseph certainly did his team no favours when he not only conceded a 13th minute penalty with a stern challenge, but left his side a man short as he was given his marching orders for doing so. Jamil then stepped up and put his team two ahead when he calmly rolled the ball wide of St. Lucia custodian Giovanni Deterville.

Fritzson slid in from close range to send his team disappering over the horizon in the 17th minute, and Mones Chery's cracker in the 42nd from the edge of the 18-yard box saw the team listed group favourites along with Jamaica, equal their first half score against the St. Lucians.

Neol added another 18 minutes after the resumption, followed by another strike by Josue Mayard in the 80th minute. Fritzson then closed out the scoring for Haiti with a goal in the 82nd minute.

Breaking away

St. Lucia's Titus Elva did well breaking away to goal on the counter, not only securing a penalty for his team, but evening up the numbers as Haitian custodian Fenelon Gabart was sent off for bringing him down in the area. Germal Valcin then secured a 92nd minute consolation goal from the spot for St. Lucia.

Two teams will advance from the group and hosts Jamaica, on three points following a 4-0 victory over St. Lucia in their opening match, are favoured to claim the other spot.

The Reggae Boyz will face Haiti tomorrow in a 6:00 p.m. encounter at the National Stadium. St. Lucia are without a point, while St. Vincent, which went down 0-4 to Haiti in Wednesday's opening fixture, were facing Jamaica in last night's late game at the stadium.