… to play Barbados in crucial game tomorrow

A DOUBLE from Brittany Persaud (40th, 67th), and single strikes each from Brianne Dessa (45th), Tiandi Smith (88th), Sydney Cummings (65th) and Calaigh Copeland (56th) saw the ‘Lady Jags’ roar to a well-deserved 6-1 win over Suriname last evening, at the Leonora Track and Field Centre, in their second CONCACAF Group ‘E’ Caribbean Qualifiers match.

Having watched Bermuda claim a 3-2 win over Barbados in the first game of the night’s double-header; Guyana knew that a victory and one by a large margin was necessary.
Guyana’s head coach Dr Ivan Joseph made some changes to the starting line-up, placing Mariam El-Masri, Copeland, Collette Hope, Allison Heydorn and goalkeeper Natalie Nedd on the bench, while opting to start with Tiandi Smith, Brittany Persaud, Nikkita Persaud, Cummings, Alicia Zaban, Cameo Hazlewood, Jade Vyfhuis, Dessa, Ghilene Joseph, Sasha James and goalkeeper Taylor White.

It was Suriname who took the lead in the 38th minute through their captain Sabrina Rigters, but the Lady Jags equalised in the 40th minute thanks to a beautifully taken free-kick off the boot of Brittany Persaud from approximately 22 yards out.

It was all downhill from then on for Suriname, as Guyana found the go-ahead goal just on the stroke of halftime from Dessa, who hammered one home from a goalmouth scramble after Nathalie Benjamin could not have held on to a squared ball.

With the scores 2-1 coming out for the start of the second half, Suriname felt the wrath of the Lady Jags after Dr Joseph sent in El-Masri, Copeland and Annalisa Vincent.
It was a truly one-sided affair in the entire second half and the score could have easily ballooned if the Lady Jags had only converted on half of the chances created.

After the game, Dr Joseph told reporters that he was happy with way the players responded to the pressure, knowing that they were in a must-win situation and had to win by a considerable margin to boost their chances of topping the group.
The final Group E matches will be played tomorrow and given the current standings, fans will be in for a treat.

Guyana only conceded three goals in the tournament which is the least, of the four teams, and scored the most (eight) which placed them on top of Group E with a plus-five advantage and four points.

Bermuda, however, though having four points like Guyana (a win and a draw) are second place on goal-difference since they scored five but conceded four giving them plus-one.
It means that in tomorrow’s game against Suriname, Bermuda will have to hope for Barbados to beat Guyana to stand a chance to advance.