The Curacao team played a CONCACAF Nations League match against Haiti with heavy hearts on Tuesday following the sudden death of their goalkeeper, Jairzinho Pieter.
Pieter, 31, died at the Curacao team hotel in Port-au-Prince on Monday, CONCACAF announced in a statement.
Multiple media outlets reported the cause of death was an apparent heart attack.
Pieter made a dozen appearances for the small Caribbean island nation from 2013 through this year.
Teammate Leandro Bacuna took to Instagram to pay tribute to Pieter.
“A guy with a beautiful heart ... U will always be my brother from another mother and i will remember your name your soul for the rest of my life,” wrote the midfielder-defender who plays club soccer for Cardiff City in the English Championship.
“I lost a very good friend and I'm asking myself why, why my friend?”
Curacao drew the match with Haiti 1-1.
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