Cuba's Mario Ruiz Leonard (left) leaves a Haitian defender on the ground and looks to get by Mechank Jerome as well during yesterday's game between the two teams at Jarrett Park. Haiti won 1-0. - adrian frater

western bureau

Guadeloupe copped the final semi-final place in the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Champion-ships last night when they held on for a 2-2 draw against Antigua and Barbuda in the final round Group 'B' game at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay.

The draw, which was secured through goals by Michael Antoine-Curier and Gregory Gendrey, saw Guadeloupe ending on four points, the same as Haiti, who had earlier defeated Cuba 1-0 in the first game of the night's double-header.

However, Guadeloupe advanced as their zero goal difference was superior to Haiti''s minus one.

Guadeloupe started the contest looking all set to dominate as they scored the fastest goal of the competition, when Antoine-Curier converted after just 10 seconds. He caught the Antigua and Barbuda defence seemingly unprepared and drilled in a powerful low shot, making the score 1-0.

However, with time running out in the half, the resolute Antigua/Barbuda struck back and drew level in the 35th minute. Peter Byers found an opening in the Guadeloupe defence and sped through before firing powerfully past the goalkeeper, making the half-time score 1-1.

Guadeloupe started the second half looking quite urgent, forcing back the Antigua and Barbuda defence with a series of well-coordinated attacks. One of the attacks paid off in the 62nd minute when Gendrey crept up behind the Antigua and Barbuda defence and unleashed a fierce shot, which sailed wide of the helpless goalkeeper and lodged into the goal, making the score 2-1.

Anxious moments

However, the Antigua and Barbuda team, which had a chance of advancing with a big win, refused to throw in the towel and kept fighting back, creating many anxious moments for the Guadeloupe defence.

In the 83rd minute, Antigua and Barbuda stunned the Guadeloupe fans into silence when Ken Pennyfeather raced into the goal area and fired a savage shot, which brushed aside the hands of goalkeeper Franck Grandel and lodged into the goal, making the score 2-2.

Antigua and Barbuda went all out in attack in the dying minutes but Guadeloupe held on for the draw, which was enough to earn them a place in the last four.

In their game, Haiti made a bold bid to claw their way back into contention when they ended Cuba's two-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory, which left Guadeloupe needing to avoid defeat to advance.

Sweet shot

With the momentum in their favour mid-way the half, Haiti took the lead in the 37th minute. Michel Jean Boucicaut pounced on a cross from the right flank, turned sweetly before the goal and fired past goalkeeper Danny Quinteros Chevans, making the final score 1-0.

"We have done all we can, so let's see what will happen between Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda," said Jairo Rios Rendon, the Haitian coach, after the game. "We would love to continue in this competition."

Cuba's wily winger Leonel Duarte (right) looking for a way around Haiti's Mechank Jerome in yesterday's Digicel Caribbean Championship game between the two teams at Jarrett Park. Haiti won the game 1-0. - adrian frater