The North and Central America and Caribbean region is well known for its chaos, surprises and great stories, but even the most experienced CONCACAF fans couldn’t hide their shock over last month’s drama in the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).
In the first round, Haitian side Violette AC eliminated MLS side Austin FC 3-2 on aggregate, in a game which could be considered one of the greatest football upsets of the year.
This week, they will continue their journey against Mexico’s Club León in the quarter-finals, in what will be an even greater challenge, and a match that will attract eyes from all over the world.
But what makes that elimination such a special and unique surprise?
Chaos in Haiti
Haiti is currently suffering from a deep internal crisis, political turmoil and instability - highlighted by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
Since then, the situation has worsened, and the country is dealing with waves of violence and protests, shortage of food and water, and an outburst of cholera.
This situation has led to the stoppage of the Ligue Haitienne, the local football league, which has been on hiatus since May 2021.
Combined with the coronavirus pandemic and previous civil unrest in 2019, the league has barely been active for the past four years.
Violette are the last team to win a championship in the country, back in January 2021, and have only played four official matches since then - all in the Caribbean Club Championship, a tournament they won in mid-2022, which granted them the ticket to the 2023 CCL.
This is the first time they’ve participated in the tournament.
Visa troubles
After beating Austin 3-0 at home - in a game that was actually played in the Dominican Republic - Violette were preparing for the return leg in Texas but were dealt with some bad news.
Eight different players didn’t have the proper documentation and visas to enter the United States, deeming them unfit for travel.
The team even pondered forfeiting the game altogether, similar to their counterparts Cavaly AS, who withdrew from a CCL tie vs New England Revolution in 2022.
Eventually Violette arrived in the US without those players, and as a result struggled to field a starting lineup. Their squad was already dwindling in numbers because of the domestic situation.
The Haitian side knew they would have no bench players, and had to arrange emergency temporary signings of US-based Haitian players who were willing to join and play.
Two of them, Jude Saint Louis and Renato Lambert, were on the bench and came on as substitutes, to help Violette hold on to a 2-0 loss that sent them through.
Mexican and American domination
The CCL, similar to the international scene in the region, is heavily dominated by the Mexican and American representatives.
Mexican teams have won every edition between 2006 and 2021, with the Seattle Sounders becoming the first MLS team to win the modern version of the competition in 2022.
Finals similarly solely feature teams from Liga MX and MLS, and earlier rounds only occasionally surprise with wins for teams from countries such as Costa Rica, Panama or Honduras.
Caribbean teams traditionally barely provide a challenge, and the last team from the region to beat a MLS side was Trinidadian outfit W Connection, who shocked New York Red Bulls in 2009.
Austin FC, a relatively young MLS side, had a great 2022 season, finishing in second in the Western Conference, and only being eliminated from the play-offs by eventual champions LAFC in the conference final.
With big names such as Sebastian Driussi, Emiliano Rigoni and Alexander Ring, and former American internationals Gyasi Zardes and Nick Lima, they simply were not supposed to lose to Violette.
A visit to León
After that shock, Violette will now try to do the same to a Mexican side.
León are ranked third in the Liga MX Clausura, and were runner-ups in the same phase in 2021-22.
With the Mexicans currently 11 games undefeated, this too will be a nearly impossible task to pull off.
Their squad is full of experienced players, some even featured at the 2022 World Cup - Costa Rica’s Joel Campbel, Mexican goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, and Ecuadorian Angel Mena.
Victor Davila and Lucas Di Yorio provide even more of a spark up front.
For Violette, this time around there were no bureaucratic problems, as the whole squad was able to travel to Mexico with no known visa issues.
“We’re not going to stop fighting, no matter what comes our way”, said a visibly emotional team Steeven Saba, the side’s captain and a Haitian international, a few moments after the final whistle of the second leg.
Saba dedicated the win to the Haitian people watching at home, and his teammates who couldn't make the journey.
In Mexico, none of his fellow players will be left behind, but the Haitian nation and its people remain in the midst of a deep crisis which tears the country apart.
There aren’t many reasons for delight back home, but there certainly will be hope for some more Cinderella magic from Violette.
Edited by Alex Smith
