SHELDON Holder scored in the 16th minute for Guyana’s ‘Golden Jaguars, but the ‘Soca Warriors’ danced their way to an entertaining 1-1 draw when the two met on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad, in a FIFA International Friendly.

It was the 21st meeting between Guyana and the Twin Island Republic in international football, with the first clash dating back to 1978. While Trinidad and Tobago have gone on to become one of the Caribbean’s powerhouses in the sport and also featured in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Guyana are yet to find a place of historic significance.
The Soca Warriors have won 14 of those meetings, while four matches ended in draws. Guyana’s last victory was on November 11, 2011 and their first was a 4-0 win in the Island’s capital.

The last time Guyana faced Trinidad, the ‘Trinis’ walked away 3-0 winners, and as such, head coach Wayne Dover, who also faced T&T as a player, was hoping for a morale-boosting victory as Guyana prepare for a November 25 meeting against Indonesia.
According to a report published by the Island’s leading source for sports updates and news, www.wiered868.com, Dover opted to play a 4-2-3-1 system, and started with Andrew Durant in goal, Terrence Vancooten, Jake Newton, debutant Jelani Smith, Christopher Bourne; Samuel Cox (captain), Warren Creavalle, Emery Welshman, Brandon Beresford, Kadell Daniel and Holder.

Dennis Lawrence, Trinidad’s head coach, went with the experienced Marvin Phillip between the uprights, Alvin Jones, Sheldon Bateau (captain), Josiah Trimmingham, Aubrey David, Nathaniel Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Nathan Lewis, Levi Garcia, Neil Benjamin Jr, and Jamille Boatswain.

The Soca Warriors, according to the report, tried to move the ball quickly around the back four in the hope that the opposing full-back had failed to stay close to either of the Trinidad and Tobago wingers.

Holder, who plays for Morvant Caledonia United in the TT Pro League, played the ball wide for Kadel Daniel and then beat Bateau to the cross to head past Warriors custodian Marvin Phillips.

It was Guyana, up 1 – 0 against a Soca Warriors as they search for their first victory in Trinidad since their 4 – 2 win on August 20, 1978.

Meanwhile, in the 30th minute, Nathaniel had a strike from distance ricochet off the outside of an upright but it was not until the second half that Trinidad and Tobago really asked questions of the “Golden Jaguars.”

Benjamin should have equalised in the 46th minute but he failed to hit the target after a cross from Levi—who had returned to the flank with the introduction of Shahdon Winchester at half-time.

Winchester pull the hosts level in the 60th minute with a good left-footed finish from the edge of the area, after a pass from Benjamin, his former W Connection teammate. It was his first goal under Lawrence and his fifth in 2017, which made him the highest scorer for Trinidad and Tobago in this calendar year.

Guyana’s Welshman had a chance to give Guyana the victory, but, Phillip pulled off a superb late reflex save to preserve the draw.