Haiti lose, but Mohun Bagan's Sony Norde shines in Copa

KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan supporters' hopes of seeing their club's star player Sony Norde in action at the Copa America Centenario meet in the United States were fulfilled as Haiti coach, Patrice Neveu, handed Sony a start in the team's final Group B league game against Ecuador at the Metlife stadium in East Rutherford very early on Monday (Indian time).
It is true that Haiti lost the match 0-4 to Ecuador, who progressed to the quarterfinal stage of the meet, but Sony Norde justified his selection by being a bright spot for Haiti in the game.He played the entire match and showed some of his trademark nippy runs. Sony also managed to apply some pressure on the rival defenders. He looked to be the best Haiti player on the pitch.
In spite of the fact that Haiti lost the match and thereby finished at the bottom of Group B without any point to their kitty, the green and maroons supporters were extremely elated that they got to see Sony Norde in action at the Copa America Centenario meet and that the winger gave a good account of himself. The fans flooded social media with congratulatory messages for the Haitian.
For the record, Sony Norde had not played any part in Haiti's first two league matches, against Peru and Brazil respectively.
It is indeed a special moment for Sony Norde, who had been looking forward to this tournament quite keenly, and also for Indian football fans as it is not every day that a foreigner who plies his trade in the I-League also represents his country in a prestigious international competition.