Noel, Marcelin score in Haiti’s 2-0 win against Grenada, its first Gold Cup win since 2002

Noel, Marcelin score in Haiti’s 2-0 Gold Cup win

WASHINGTON — Fabrice Noel scored in the 14th minute and James Marcelin added a goal in the 78th, giving Haiti a 2-0 victory over Grenada in CONCACAF Gold Cup group play.

The win was Haiti’s first in the Gold Cup since 2002. Haiti is 1-1 in Group B going into Saturday’s game against the United States in Foxborough, Mass. Grenada is the group’s lone winless team going into Saturday’s game against Honduras, also in Foxborough.

Noel’s goal came off a free kick by Brunel Fucien into a crowd in the middle of the penalty area. Noel deflected it into the net.

Marcelin took a pass from Raymond Ednerson, beat a defender at the top left-hand corner of the penalty area, and then converted his one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Desmond Noel.

One of Grenada’s best scoring chances came in the 39th minute, when Delroy Facey took a cross and had a wide-open shot on the left side of the net, but put the ball high over the crossbar.