Beaten (4-1) by Canada on Sunday in the small final of the Concacaf championship, Haiti finished in fourth place in the tournament. But her nugget, Lourdjina Etienne, scorer in this match, was voted best player in the competition.
🇭🇹 Big cheers to Lourdjina Etienne, honored as the Best Player, presented by @ScotiabankFC! 🌟👏 pic.twitter.com/qHPXkdr1VO
— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) February 11, 2024
Talented and combative, Lourdjina Etienne managed to shake the nets on Sunday in the small final which turned in favor of the Canadians, more sharp and realistic in front of the goals. Despite opening the score, Haiti was unable to maintain the advantage and ended up giving in, first at the end of the first period on a direct free kick, then in the second period where it conceded three other goals.
The little Grenadières will therefore not go to the Under-17 World Cup. However, Marc Ogé’s protégés showed heart and determination on the field and above all made their Haitian compatriots dream.
They beat Costa Rica (2-1) to enter the competition, thanks to a Lourdjina Etienne double before the latter, with a quadruple, made short work of El Salvador, allowing the Haitians to win 5 -3.
Four goals, including a gem to showcase your dribbling talent and an assist to show her vision, Lourdjina Etienne, 17, was sensational against Salvador who had no solution to stop the powerful Haitian attacker.
In the semi-final against the United States, the young striker did not remain silent in front of the American goals. Despite American domination, Etienne, twirling and always on the right track, scored the only goal for the crushed Grenadières (7-1).
It was again Etienne, who escaped on the edge of offside, who deceived the Canada goalkeeper with his head to open the scoring and scored his eighth of the tournament.
Ultra decisive with her selection, good ball preserver, capable of destabilizing a defense with her feints and dribbles, no wonder she won the trophy for the best player of the tournament. A trophy that she “shared with the rest of the team”.
“Lourdjina Étienne received her golden ball reward from the organizers of the confederation and shared it with the rest of the team,” informed the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) in a press release.
Also, Lourdjina Etienne’s golden ball recalls that of Haitian superstar Melchie Daelle Dumornay also won with the under-17 category and in a similar phase of a Concacaf championship! Coincidence? Presage?
🇭🇹Lourdjina is walking on the tracks of Corventina 🤩⭐️⭐️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Ea4FYuNlpZ
— Jean Pierre Etienne (@jpehaiti) February 12, 2024
“Lourdjina follows in the footsteps of Melchie Dumornay,” responded Haitian journalist Jean Pierre Etienne, sharing a photo of the two stars with their respective Golden Balls.
Note that in an interview with the FHF, Lourdjina Etienne revealed that Melchie Dumornay, 20 years old, is her favorite player.
When will we again see the talents of the new darling of Haitian football on the pitch? In the first edition of the God Cup? Unlikely, because Haitian coach Frédéric Goncalves has already communicated his final list.
