By Ian Quillen Soccer News Net Contributor From Big Apple Soccer

BALTIMORE–Giles Barnes scored in the 7th minute to lift Jamaica to its first-ever victory in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal, 1-0 over Haiti on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium.

Ryan Thompson made four saves as well as several key interventions on crosses to prevent a resolute Haitian side from equalizing in the first-ever Gold Cup quarterfinal between Caribbean opponents.

Duckens Nazon also struck the post in the first half for Haiti, which exits the tournament after the impressive feat of progressing from a group that included the USA, Honduras and Panama.

Jamaica had lost thrice previously at this stage of the tournament — twice to the USA and once to Mexico — and also lost in both previous semifinal appearances back when the tournament’s knockout phase included just four sides.

In truth, they were perhaps slightly fortunate Saturday. But Barnes possessed the ruthlessness Haiti’s troublesome attack lacked, taking a pass from the right and from a tight angle driving a powerful finish off the leg of Johnny Placide and into the net. He became the first Jamaican forward to score this tournament on a night Darren Mattocks sat out with a red card suspension.

Haiti responded well, with Wilde-Donald Guerrier forcing Thompson into a reaction save in the 22nd minute and Nazon’s effort from outside the area rattling the left post two minutes later. Then in the 34th minute, Jean Alexandre’s shot whizzed just over the crossbar, and James Marcelin missed on a similar effort for Haiti four minutes after the break.

Jamaica had its best chances to double the lead early on in the second half.

In the 56th minute, Jobi McAnuff dispossessed a Haitian defender deep in his own area and struck a firm effort that forced Placide into a fine diving save to his right. And in the 60th, Placide dove left to push away Kemar Lawrence’s goalbound free kick.

Haiti turned up the pressure and dominated possession for the final 20 minutes, but only rarely turning it into clear chances, perhaps the best coming when Kervens Belfort sent a flashing header just wide of the left post in second-half stoppage time.

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