Haiti routs Nicaragua to seize group lead

MANAGUA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Haiti moved to the top of its CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group on Thursday with a 3-0 away win over Nicaragua.

Duckens Nazon and Danley Jean Jacques scored first-half goals for the visitors before Louicius Deedson added a third in second-half stoppage time.

Nicaragua had 56% of the possession but mostly failed to create danger in its attacking third.

The result leaves Haiti leading Group C, four points ahead of fourth-placed Nicaragua in the region's final qualifying phase, which features 12 teams divided into three groups of four.

In Thursday's only other CONCACAF World Cup qualifier, Honduras was held to a goalless home draw by Costa Rica.

The top team from each group will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs. Enditem