HIALEAH — For the very few who doubted that Haiti would progress to the next round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, their doubts were put to rest early Friday night in Hialeah, Florida. Haiti defeated the Turks and Caicos Islands 2-0 on the evening and 7-0 on aggregate.

The Haitians struck early on nine minutes following a Roody Lormera spot kick. Lormera was taken down in the area by defender Christopher Gannon and easily slotted the ball past goalkeeper Gregg Gerard. The lead increased to 2-0 near the end of the first half as Turks and Caicos player-coach Paul Crosbie scored an own goal on 42 minutes. Haiti’s Romulus Turlien sent a cross into the box when Crosbie, attempting to clear the ball, kicked the ball into his own net.

Haiti will advance to the next round of qualifying in June when they will compete in a two-legged series with the Reggae Boyz from Jamaica.

In Grand Cayman, meanwhile, Cuba surprisingly needed an 89th-minute goal from Luis Marten to secure a narrow 2-1 over the Cayman Islands on Saturday night.

Lester More opened the scoring on 52 minutes before Thomas Elliot leveled for the Caymans 20 minutes later, beating Cuban keeper Odelín Molina. The Caymans were reduced to ten men on 76 minutes when John Kelly was sent off for his second bookable offense of the match. The Caymans looked to have snatched a surprise draw, but one minute from time, Marten scored the match winner.

The second leg will be in Havana on March 27 with the winner to advance to face Korea/Japan 2002 finalists Costa Rica. Cuba’s only finals appearance was in France 1938.

In Tortola, the British Virgin Islands stuck with St. Lucia through a goalless first half, but Titus Elva scored the game’s lone goal on 54 minutes, beating Virgin Isles goalkeeper Morty Butler. St. Lucia keeper Giovanni Deterville recorded the shutout.

St. Lucia will host the second leg of the tie on March 28 with the winner facing Panama in the next round.

Stephen Sharp