NYC Haiti starts International Cup with a 2-0 win over Nigeria

Clifford "Kly" Augustin controlling a long ball. Brooklyn Soccer Life

Game Report

Brooklyn Super Soccer League International Cup reigning champions NYC Haiti kicked off the tournament with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nigeria Sunday afternoon at Old Boys and Girls high school soccer field.

Former Aigle Noir player Evens Prophete and Tilme Wilson netted for Les Grenadiers while Nigeria finished the game with nine men after two red cards.

The Haitians were rewarded a penalty kick in the 19th minute when Stevens Jean's header from Wilson’s cross struck a Nigerian defender's hand.

Prophete converted the penalty kick the following minute, hitting the ball to the lower left corner as opposing keeper Kosi Agbevor stood still.

NYC Haiti came close to doubling their lead 20 minutes inside the second half when substitute Clifford “Kly” Augustin headed a powerful header on frame via Wilson’s cross but straight at keeper Agbevor.

Wilson was the one who gifted NYC Haiti the secure 2-0 lead they were looking for. The Haitian controlled a pinpoint through ball from Ronald Leandre before dribbling through empty space to slot a low shot past Agbevor in the 54th minute.

Jean almost made it three two minutes later as his shot from the right corner of the 18-yard box banged the lower left post.

This victory puts NYC Haiti on top of the International Cup standings after the first day of the tournament.

Players' afterthoughts

Frandy Montrevil

NYC Haiti keeper Frandy Montrevil. Brooklyn Soccer Life Images

Former Haiti international keeper Frandy Montrevil was pleased with the clean sheet and with his defenders’ performances.

“Concerning us not giving away any goals, I can say that my defense played good today,” Montrevil said after the match. “My defense played good, they returned passes really well, there was no mistake that caused us to get scored on. I wish they keep this up next game.”

Offensive wise, the Cap-Haitien native noted that the attackers could’ve scored more goals.

“Our offense under-performed today, we were really weak up top,” Montrevil said. “Even though they scored but they could’ve scored more. And also the number of players we do have didn't show up, Fritzson [Jean-Baptiste] wasn’t here, Lousvens [Mesidor] wasn't here, Ivener [Guerrier] wasn’t here so most of our forwards weren’t here. But we did our best still, we won.”

The 35-year-old keep for Haiti national team from 2006 to 2013. He won the Haitian league and the Best Player Award with his last club Valencia in 2012.

Evens Prophete

Evens Prophete was pleased he found the net against Nigeria.

"I'm really satisfied of the goal because we needed the victory today. I happened to score the goal, I'm really satisfied," Prophete said after the match.

The 37-year-old netted from 12 yard. He shared that he was confident before hitting the penalty kick.

"Well you know, penalties, nobody's good at it, just believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself you can make the dream come true. When I shot the penalty I wasn't stressed out, I believed in myself so I scored the goal."

Prophete played with NYC Haiti when they won the cup last year.

"I think so," the former Haiti international player said when asked if his side can win the tournament again. "If the guys keep the team together, if everybody's motivated, if the group is solidified, I think we can do the same thing we did last year."

Three key notes

1. Tilme Wilson played an excellent game: not only did Wilson score the second goal but he also had a couple of key crosses. It was the former Aigle Noir right back's cross that Stevens Jean headed on a Nigerian's hand to draw the penalty.

NYC Haiti player Tilme Wilson. Brooklyn Soccer Life Images

2. Defenper Montrevil: Nigeria only took three shots but goalkeeper Frandy Montrevil was active all game long. The keeper came out of his box on various occasions to intercept Nigeria's aerial balls with his head and exchanged a multiple of short passes with his defenders.

3. It could've been more than two: NYC Haiti missed three glorious scoring opportunities late in the game.