Haitian club Real Hope FA clinched a 3-2 victory over Dominican Republic’s Moca FC in the second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup third-place series at Estadio Moca 85 on Tuesday.

The win secured a 4-2 aggregate triumph and confirmed Real Hope’s place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, marking their first-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament.

Entering the second leg with a 1-0 lead from the first encounter, thanks to Stanley Joseph’s lone goal, Real Hope FA capitalized on their advantage. While Moca FC pushed for an early breakthrough, it was the visitors who looked more composed in the first half.

Huguens Michel nearly doubled Real Hope’s aggregate lead in the 38th minute with a curling free kick that rattled the right post, leaving the home crowd relieved but wary of the threat posed by the Haitian team.

However, the breakthrough for Real Hope came in the 66th minute, when Angelo Exilus finished off a swift counterattack with a precise right-footed strike inside the box.

That goal not only extended their aggregate lead to 2-0 but also placed significant pressure on the hosts. However, they responded just five minutes later, when Guillermo de Peña unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box in the 71st minute to equalize on the night and breathe life into the Dominican side’s comeback hopes.

De Peña struck again in the 79th minute, this time he converted from close range after a well-placed header by Gustavo Ascona. His second goal of the night tied the aggregate score at 2-2 but left Moca still needing another goal to overturn Real Hope’s crucial away-goal advantage.

Real Hope FA, undeterred by Moca’s resurgence, reclaimed control in the closing stages as Daniel Saint-Fleur delivered a stunning strike from outside the box in the 90th minute.

Rapha Intervil then added the finishing touch in stoppage time, calmly slotting home from close range after being set up by Rikanel Chery in the 90+5 minute to cap a memorable night for Real Hope.

With the 4-2 aggregate win, Real Hope FA not only claimed third place in the tournament but also earned their debut qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Haiti’s Real Hope FA edged Dominican Republic’s Moca FC 1-0 in the first leg of their Concacaf Caribbean Cup third-place tie in Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, on Tuesday.

Stanley Joseph opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a right-footed strike as he capitalized on a deflected ball in the box. Jeudy Johnson was essential in the buildup play and later provided the ball over the top, which led to the goal.

Huguens Michel went close to extending the lead for Real Hope in the 14th minute as his header went just wide of left upright.

Real Hope was reduced to ten men in the 45+1 after Steeve Mondestin was shown a straight red card.

With the numerical advantage, Moca FC should have pulled level in the 45+5, but Eduardo Montenegro well-struck free kick, but Real Hope’s goalkeeper Gooly Elien proved equal to the task.

Argentina-born Gustavo Ascona had a dangerous hit on target from outside the box in the 45+6, but Elien again came up big to deny him.

Like they did at the start, Real Hope came out more purposeful after the break, and Angelo Exilus danced his way through Moca’s defence but his final effort in the 74th was charged down by Keudy Jimenez.

Yveto Dort again went close for Real Hope with a stinging 78th-minute drive from a distance that went just wide of the target.

Real Hope’s custodian Elien was again called up on to deny a 90+5-minute effort to preserve the clean sheet and ensure his team remained on the front foot heading into next Tuesday’s second leg.

He finished the night with four saves and his third clean sheet in the tournament.