Jamaica’s Waterhouse FC gave up a one-goal lead to fall 1-3 to Violette AC of Haiti in Thursday’s Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship semi-final match at the Estadio Cibao FC in the Dominican Republic.

Andre Moulton scored the opener for the Marcel Gayle-coached Waterhouse in the eighth minute before Roberto Louima brought Violette level in the 21st minute.

Steevenson Jeudy gave Violette the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute, and the striker followed with a lovely 87th-minute finish to give his team a two-goal cushion.

It was a disappointing exit for Waterhouse, who previously went to the final of the competition in 2014, 2019, and 2020. But it was a deserved win for the Haitian club, which dominated the encounter after the early setback.

In Thursday’s late contest at the venue, the Dominican Republic sides Cibao FC and Atletico Vega Real were scheduled to square off for the other spot in Sunday’s final.

In the opening semi-final, Waterhouse began the more dangerous of the two teams as Cardel Benbow deftly stepped away from his marker down the left, but his low cross was intercepted by the Violette defence.

Minutes later, the Haitian team’s defence failed to clear after a quick and incisive build-up from Waterhouse. Ricardo Thomas was first to the loose ball and lobbed a pass to the edge of the six-yard box for Moulton to nod into the goal.

Violette were spurred into action, with Dany Camille firing a speculative 40-yard shot that was tipped over the cross bar by Waterhouse goalkeeper Kemar Foster.

But Violette, who recovered from a 0-3 opening group stage loss to host team Cibao FC to beat Jamaica’s Cavalier FC 3-2, which sealed their knock-out spot, were not to be denied for long.

The industrious Louima was the architect, winning a duel with Waterhouse’s Keithy Simpson in midfield before dribbling away and shooting a tame effort at goal, which inexplicably crept under Foster’s dive and trickled into the goal.

The teams entered the break 1-1, but Violette took their momentum into the second half, patiently stringing passes together while probing the Waterhouse defence for gaps.

On the other hand, Waterhouse, who had a 2-0 win against Arcahaie of Haiti and a 0-0 result against Atletico Vega Real during the group stage, were more direct and frenetic in their approach.

Violette grabbed the lead just past the midway point in the second half when Wendy St Felix delivered an inviting right-sided cross which was headed on goal by Jeudy.

Foster got two hands to the strike, but the ball squirmed into the goal as two retreating Waterhouse players got in each other’s way while attempting to sweep it off the goal line.

Jeudy put icing on the cake when he smartly side-stepped opposing player Damion Binns, and with equal deftness, gave Foster no chance with a precise finish.

— Sanjay Myers