RED BULLS ABROAD Derrick Etienne and Haiti U23s fall to Dominican Republic

The Haiti U23 National Team dropped a 1-0 result to the Dominican Republic in the 2nd edition of the Copa Quisqueya. Red Bulls Academy and New York Red Bulls II player Derrick Etienne started for Les Grenadiers at attacking midfiedler in front of 3,000 people at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo. Former Red Bulls Academy, Red Bulls U23s, and Red Bulls Reserve player Jhon Miky Benchy Estama also made an appearance in the match as a sub.

The Dominican Republic's Luis Ismael Diaz headed in the game winning goal in the 91st minute off a Rafael Flores free kick.  Haiti spent around 60 minutes playing with 10 men after Chardley Germain was sent off.

It appears that the Dominican Republic used parts of their senior squad (instead of players who were U23 eligible) for this match as a warm up for upcoming 2018 World Cup Qualifiers (despite the match being planned as an Olympic qualifying warm up) which caused a bit of controversy among Haitian fans and their federation.

Here is a highlight of the late goal.

Etienne, who captains the Red Bulls U18 Academy team, will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall.

Estama spent the last college season with New York City's ASA College (a Division I junior college) and currently plays for Don Bosco FC in Haiti. He was also recently named to Haiti's 35-man preliminary roster for the Gold Cup along with current Red Bulls center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste.