Sport

Brown: Haiti will be tough

By AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter

Carl Brown - File

JAMAICA's technical director Carl Brown went behind enemy lines Saturday night, braving what has been reported as a "boisterous pro-Haitian crowd" at the Orange Bowl in Miami to watch the Reggae Boyz's World Cup qualifying opponents give the United States a run for their money in a 1-1 draw.

United States coach Bruce Arena scolded his team after it took a trio of changes in the 75th minute to force a stoppage time goal chested in by Danny Cliff to cancel Haiti's 69th minute strike.

Brown was on hand, scouting Haiti, who Jamaica will play in World Cup qualifying action on June 13 and 20. The first match is scheduled for the Orange Bowl, downtown Miami, a venue at which Haitian supporters are expected turn out in full force as they did Saturday night.

"They played well," Brown told STAR Sports. "It was the team we saw March last year in the Gold Cup qualifiers against us. We saw them three times after that and they've looked much improved," he added.

"Their attacking strength is good and something we'll have to pay a lot of attention to. They have two good strikers, very tall and quick. They play a 4-4-2 game with two wide midfielders, playing almost as wingers," he noted.

The Jamaican technical director said he's expecting a tough game against a unit, which has been together since January in Florida.

The last time Jamaica faced Haiti, the Reggae Boyz came out 3-0 winners at the National Stadium in Gold Cup qualifying last year.

"We've to continue our preparations," Brown said. "We won't get together until the end of the English season, May 15, and we're looking to play three games before the qualifiers.

"We're trying to organise a week-long camp in England and another a week before the qualifiers in Florida," he pointed out.

Brown believes the current impasse in Haiti won't affect their players.

"If you look at what they've done, move to Miami, they're far removed from what is happening at home," he reasoned.