Thursday, June 5

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Sports Mole previews Saturday's World Cup Qualifying - North Central America clash between Aruba and Haiti, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aiming to continue their perfect record in North American World Cup Qualifying and book a third-round spot, Haiti will travel to Oranjestad to take on Aruba on Saturday.

The visitors started with back-to-back wins last year to sit second with two games remaining, while their hosts are unable to advance having failed to win any of their three games.

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Match preview

Aruba head into the final game of their World Cup qualifying bid on Saturday in search of a first victory in the competition.

They have again failed to advance towards a first World Cup appearance, having only managed two points from their three group games thus far, beginning last June with a 2-0 home loss to Curacao and a 2-2 draw with Saint Lucia.

An unsuccessful CONCACAF Nations League campaign then followed late last year, as Marvic Bermudez's team suffered relegation to League C, losing each of their six matches, before finally returning to winning ways in March in a friendly away at Cambodia, as Walter Bennett and Rovien Ostiana scored in a 2-1 triumph.

Needing a victory to keep any top-two hopes alive heading into their final game, they then returned to qualifying action in a trip to Barbados on Wednesday but only managed to leave with a point, having fallen behind early and levelled at a goal apiece through Diederick Luydens in the 15th minute.

Now unable to catch Curacao and Saturday's visitors in the top two spots, the only places granting progression to the third qualifying round, Aruba will at least bid to end their latest campaign on a high with three points on home soil.

The travelling nation, meanwhile, make the trip on Saturday aiming to guarantee their finish in that top two and book their place in the next stage after a strong start to qualifying last year.

Aiming to reach the World Cup for the second time in their history and first time since 1974, Haiti entered North American qualifying in the second round and quickly established a lead in the top two of group C by beginning with consecutive wins last year.

Les Grenadiers firstly hosted Saint Lucia and picked up a 2-1 triumph, before visiting Barbados and winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Louicius Don Deedson, Markhus Duke Lacroix and Bryan Labissiere.

They would build on that fine start and build further momentum with a perfect CONCACAF Nations League campaign late last year, topping their League B group to win promotion with six victories from six games, scoring 29 across those including 3-1 and 5-3 triumphs over Saturday's opponents, with the latter of those coming on home soil in October.

Now sitting second with six points on the board from two games on their return to qualifying action after a year, only trailing Curacao on goal difference with two games remaining, Haiti have the chance to seal a top-two finish and third-round place and take the pressure of the final-day meeting with the leaders if they can come out on top on Saturday.

Aruba World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:

Aruba form (all competitions):

Haiti World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:

Haiti form (all competitions):

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Team News

Aruba should field a similar starting XI from their midweek draw against Barbados, with Terence Groothusen likely to again lead the attack having scored six goals in his 21 caps thus far.

Rovien Ostiana is a key man in support, having racked up eight in just 14 games for his nation, while Alljereau Mercera and Kymani Nedd will hope to keep their places on the wings.

Nickenson Paul leads the current squad on 34 caps and should continue in defence, with Jillroy Ruiz hoping to again get the nod alongside Diederick Luydens in the centre.

Haiti have experience to call on in attack, with Frantzdy Pierrot again bound to lead the line having netted 30 goals in just 36 caps for his nation thus far.

He should be deployed alongside Duckens Nazon, whose tally of 39 goals is the highest in his nation's history.

Louicius Don Deedson and Inter Miami's Fabrice Picault could offer further support, while Ricardo Ade is a mainstay in the middle of the defence.

Aruba possible starting lineup:

Lentink; Paul, Luydens, Ruiz, Martis; Senchi, Bennett; Nedd, Ostiana, Mercera; Groothusen

Haiti possible starting lineup:

Pierre; Lambese, Ade, Dulysse, Experience; Deedson, Attys, Jacques, Picault; Nazon, Pierrot

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We say: Aruba 0-3 Haiti

 

Given their recent CONCACAF Nations League meetings and contrasting runs of recent form across qualifying and other competitions, we can only envisage Haiti recording another dominant win over Aruba on Saturday thanks to their superior quality.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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