With a 2-1 victory over Chile on Wednesday in Auckland, Haiti made history by securing qualification for their first-ever Women's World Cup finals. It's a remarkable achievement that highlights the growth of the team after not even reaching the final stage of Concacaf qualifying during the previous cycle, although there's one clear star of the show: 19-year-old phenom Melchie Dumornay.
It was Dumornay who scored both goals in Haiti's victory over Chile. She created the first by driving through the heart of Chile's midfield, exchanging a one-two and blazing beyond the last line of defense before finishing inside the far corner.
¡GOL DE HAITÍ! ¡GOL DE HAITÍ!
Sorprenden a las chilenas, Melchie Dumonay marca un GOLAZO y abre el marcador ⚽️Chile 0-1 Haití
EN VIVO APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/lqdh7BGQAL#RumboAlMundial pic.twitter.com/CzLiyXrVPy
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) February 22, 2023
The second was scored in the eighth-minute of second-half stoppage time and it proved decisive since Chile pulled one back at 90+11'. Dumornay has a lethal left foot.
⚽️ ¡GOOOOOOL QUE GRITA TODO HAITÍ!
¡DOBLETE DE DUMONAY! ¡GOL HISTÓRICO! ¡ESTARÁN EN EL MUNDIAL!Chile 0-2 Haití
EN VIVO APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/lqdh7BGQAL#RumboAlMundial pic.twitter.com/9O2pFkhr5M
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) February 22, 2023
Scenes.
¡¡HISTORIA PURA!!
Después de muchos años, la selección haitiana jugará una @FIFAWWC¡Las jugadoras, cuerpo técnico y afición lo celebran con todo! ⚽️#RumboAlMundial pic.twitter.com/ZmtsTIasxF
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) February 22, 2023
Dumornay's talent is no well-kept secret. She was born in Mirebalais, Haiti, started playing for the national team's youth setup at the age of 12 and made her senior debut at 17. In 2021, she signed with France's Reims in Division 1 Féminine.
Goal @fhfhaiti ! Melchie Dumornay opens up the score with this magical free kick! Haiti now leads 1-0 over @miseleccionmx . | #CU20W pic.twitter.com/kjUdBWN0Ol
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) March 6, 2020
In her debut campaign, Dumornay scored seven goals and created four more in 15 games. This season, she's got five goals and two assists in 11 games. That was enough to convince Lyon to agree to a transfer that's effective after the season — Dumornay joins the club on July 1 with a three-year deal.
Dumornay was also a standout player at the Concacaf W Championship, being named the Best Young Player and making the Best XI while offering some threatening moments against the USWNT.
Never forget when Haiti's Melchie Dumornay sent the entire USWNT defense to the shops at the CONCACAF W Championship.
Do. Not. Sleep. On. Haiti. pic.twitter.com/gOFTia0W8C— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) February 22, 2023
She was also handed the prestigious NXGN 2022 award as the world's best teenager on the women's side while Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham won the men's award.
Haiti joins England, Denmark and China in Group D at the World Cup. With a squad full of players plying their trade in France, Les Grenadières will give the Lionesses all they can handle on July 22.
