VIBZ NATION

After missing out on the competition in 2011, Haiti returns to the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the fifth time.

The Haitians qualified by securing a place in the Caribbean Cup semifinals by virtue of winning their group. A 1-0 win over host Antigua & Barbuda in their last group game sealed advancement. Former Major League Soccer player Jean-Phillippe Peguero scored the deciding goal in the 19th minute.

Haiti went on to triumph in the match for third place, defeating Martinique 1-0 thanks to Leonel St. Preux’s goal five minutes into extra time.

Les Grenadiers have progressed to the quarterfinals twice. In 2002, they won their group on the strength of a 2-0 win over Ecuador, but dropped a 2-1 decision after extra time to eventual runner-up Costa Rica in the knockout phase. In 2009, they qualified for the final eight, recording a 2-0 victory over Grenada and handing the host United States a rare Gold Cup home draw, 2-2, before losing 4-0 to eventual champion Mexico.

The Haitians hope to win another group crown, as they take on Honduras, El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago in Group B. In fact, they will return to familiar surroundings when they face the Trinidadians in the first game of a doubleheader at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 12. The Caribbean side played its first eight Gold Cup matches in Miami during the 2000, 2002 and 2007 tournaments.

Head coach Israel Blake Cantero has Gold Cup experience as a player. He started twice for Cuba in the 1998 competition.