NEW YORK — Haiti rallied with two second-half goals to beat Costa Rica 2-1 Monday and reach the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as winners of Group B.
Haiti right back Djimy Bend Alexis delivered the winner in the 81st minute with a right-footed blast that found the top right corner of the net and sent Haiti into a quarter-final clash with Group A runners-up Canada.
Costa Rica, who finished second in Group B, will take on Mexico, the Group A winners who are chasing an eighth title in the regional championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Alexis played a dubious role in the game's opening goal, a header from Costa Rica veteran Alvaro Saborio deflected off him and into the Haiti net to put the Ticos up 1-0 in the 13th minute.
Haiti equalized from the spot in the 57th minute, Duckens Nazon converting after Francisco Calvo barged over him in the box.
Earlier in the day at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, Bermuda notched the first victory of their Gold Cup debut —a 2-0 triumph over Nicaragua thanks to second-half goals from Lejuan Simmons and Nahki Wells.
Gold Cup debutants Bermuda recorded their first victory at the tournament on Monday.
With both sides already eliminated, Lejuan Simmons put Bermuda ahead in the 60th minute and set up the second 11 minutes later, crossing for Nahki Wells to head home.
Nicaragua bow out of the tournament without scoring a goal and losing all three of their matches.
Martinez, Wondolowski join
Rooney in MLS All-Star squad
Major League soccer announced the 26-man squad for July's All-Star exhibition game against Atletico Madrid with Atlanta's record goal-scorer Josef Martinez among those joining Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the roster.
DC United's former England star Rooney and LA Galaxy's Ibrahimovic were among the Fan XI selections announced on Wednesday, selected through fan voting. That group also included Ibrahimovic's Galaxy teammate Jonathan dos Santos, Orlando City's Nani, Graham Zusi of Sporting Kansas City and Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
The final 15 squad selections were made Monday, with All-Star coach James O'Connor selecting three players and league commissioner Don Garber making the final two picks. They induced Martinez, who was the MLS Most Valuable Player last season after setting the regular-season goalscoring record of 31 and taking his total to 34 during the MLS Cup playoffs.
Martinez, 26, leads Atlanta United with 10 goals in 15 MLS games this season. San Jose Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski, who last month became MLS's all-time leading goal scorer, was also added, along with rising LAFC star Diego Rossi and Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
The MLS All-Stars will face 10-time La Liga champions Atletico at Orlando City's Exploria Stadium on July 31. — Reuters
