The lights went out, but the fans didn't budge. When they came back on, the whipping wind sent rain sideways. Even by Concacaf's lofty standards, the weather in Managua for Nicaragua's World Cup qualification match against Haiti last month was wild.

"It was pissing rain. The fans were going crazy every single lighting strike. At one point it was raining so hard, I couldn't see where the keeper played it on goal kicks," Haiti defender Duke Lacroix recalled.

But Nicaragua's supporters were unfazed.

"The lights go out, the crowd goes even crazier," Lacroix said. "We come back out, no one moved a muscle. Everyone's still there."

Yet, despite the difficult conditions, Lacroix and Haiti sent the crowd home drenched and depressed. Lacroix assisted the final goal in a 3-0 Haiti victory.

"

See Full Page