Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC drew first blood in their Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-final tie as they clipped Haiti’s Real Hope FA 3-2 in first leg action in Santiago de los Caballeros on Wednesday.

Jean Lopez (fourth), Juan Diaz (49th) and Rivaldo Correa (90+1) did the damage for Cibao FC, while Angelo Exilus (11th and 83rd) grabbed a brace for Real Hope.

With the win, Cibao have placed one foot in the Caribbean Cup final, but will have to complete the job in next Thursday’s second leg in order to book a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

It was a frantic start for Cibao FC, as they broke the deadlock inside five minutes when Lopez expertly headed home from a weighted corner kick.

However, Real Hope pulled level seven minutes later through Exilus, who converted from the penalty spot.

Both teams continued to show life in the attacking third and had a few half chances to cause some problems, but failed to make them count in a bid to add to their respective tallies, as the score went unchanged at the break.

Cibao FC, like they did at the start, were quick out the blocks and again took the lead four minutes into the resumption courtesy of Diaz’s well-struck effort from a distance.

But, Exilus again popped up to keep Real Hope in the contest as he headed home from Steeve Mondestin’s perfectly weighted cross seven minutes from time.

With the scores leveled and time winding down, it seemed as if both teams would share the spoils. However, Huguens Michel took out an attacker in the danger area and was sent for an early shower, leaving Real Hope a man short.

To make matters worse, Correa stepped up and converted the 12-yard kick to put Cibao FC 3-2 up in added time, which meant there was no coming back for Real Hope on this occasion.

Correa improved his tally to four goals and now enters the race for the coveted Golden Boot. That race is currently being led by Exilus, whose brace took his tally to five goals in the tournament.

Jamaica’s Cavalier FC and Haitian outfit Real Hope FC confirmed their spots in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals after comfortable 4-1 and 2-0 wins over Jamaican clubs Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant FA in their final Group A fixtures on Thursday.

A brace from Jalmaro Calvin (35th and 71st) and one each from Shaquille Stein (29th) and Dwayne ‘Busy’ Atkinson (59th) brought Cavalier from behind to top Arnett Gardens, who took an early ninth-minute lead through captain Shai Smith.

With the win, Cavalier, the reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions, consolidated the top spot with nine points, one ahead of Real Hope, who had a brace from Angelo Exilus (12th and 77th) to deny Mount Pleasant in the battle for the runner-up position.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC (five points), Mount Pleasant (four points), and Arnett Gardens (one point) completed the table.

Cavalier will square off against Dominican Republic’s Moca FC in one semi-final, while Real Hope will lock horns against the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC, in the other. The semifinal date is yet to be confirmed.

Despite already having a spot in the final four, Cavalier FC were in no mood to relent and duly took apart Arnett Gardens at the National Stadium.

It was Arnett Gardens though that showed more purpose at the start as they sought to salvage some pride to end their campaign on a high. The ‘Junglists’ seemed on their way to achieving that feat when Smith connected with a pass from Marlon Allen and fired past Vino Barclett inside 10 minutes.

However, Xavier Gilbert’s side lost focus after taking the lead and were completely outplayed by Cavalier, who pulled level through Stein, who met Atkinson’s corner kick and slotted home at Roje Williams’ near post.

Real Hope's Angelo Exilus celebrate one of his two goals against Mount Pleasant.

Calvin then put Cavalier in front six minutes later with a tidy header past Williams from Jaheem Frazer’s weighted cross as they went to the break 2-1 up.

Cavalier picked up where they left off after the interval as Atkinson won possession deep in Arnett Gardens quarters and rounded the hapless Williams to slot home his team’s third.

Calvin later completed his brace with a tidy right-footed finish to cap Cavalier’s victory.

Meanwhile, a short distance away at Sabina Park, Mount Pleasant were also slow to get into stride, but unlike Cavalier, they couldn’t get back to Real Hope.

After Daniel Saint Fleur’s fourth-minute effort came back off the left upright, Exilus eventually broke the deadlock for the visitors with an easy tap-in from Watz Leazard’s pass.

Mount Pleasant tried to mount a comeback and had two decent efforts through Devonte Campbell and Sue-Lae McCalla in the 33rd and 49th minutes, but Real Hope’s custodian Gooly Elien came up big on both occasions to deny their host.

Raheem Edwards also went close for Mount Pleasant in the 70th, but he too failed to beat Elien’s glove.

With the equaliser proving elusive for Mount Pleasant, Exilus eventually found another open and made no mistakes from close range to secure the crucial win for his team.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Miscellaneous Police FC opened their Concacaf Caribbean Cup debut campaign with a 1-1 stalemate against Haitian club Real Hope FA at Sabina Park in Kingston, on Thursday.

Angelo Exilus (35^th) was on target for Real Hope FA, who are making third appearance in the Caribbean Cup, while Kwesi Allen (87^th) secured Police FC a share of the spoils.

With the point, both teams sit behind Jamaican outfit Cavalier FC (three points) in Group A, while the other Jamaican teams, Mount Pleasant FA and Arnett Gardens, who will meet at the same venue on Tuesday, are yet to get off the mark.

After a fairly tentative start, Real Hope gradually gained the ascendancy, as they pushed for the opening goal, which eventually came when Exilus drove home a right-footer from deep inside the 18-yard box.

Police FC came to life soon after and almost pulled level in the 39^th, but Kevon Woodley’s header went over the crossbar.

Woodley again went close in the latter stages of the first half, but another firm header was swallowed up by Real Hope’s goalkeeper, Gooly Elien, who was well-positioned to ensure his team remained 1-0 up at the break.

Like they did at the start, Real Hope again showed more purpose early on the resumption, with Exilus again getting on target, but his effort was blocked by Adrian Foncette in goal for Police FC on this occasion. Rapha Intervil pounced on the rebound but his effort was also charged down by Ross Russell Jr.

Real Hope continued their probe to add to their tally and almost did in the 62^nd, but Yveto Dort's well-struck effort from just outside the box went just wide of the left upright.

Police FC eventually pulled level when Allen produced a stunning diving effort to head home a service from Elijah Belgrave three minutes from time.

Miscellaneous Police FC’s next assignment will be against Cavalier at Sabina Park next Thursday, while Real Hope’s next assignment will also be against Cavalier FC on September 17 at the same venue.