……..Guyana and Jamaica win big
THIRTEEN goals were scored in the opening two games of the CONCACAF/CFU group ‘C’ World Cup qualifying tournament which kicked off on Wednesday afternoon at the Providence National Stadium.
In the opening match group favourite, Jamaica brushed aside Grenada 6 -1 and in the night cap the host Nation had little difficulty in putting away the US Virgin Islands 5 -1, though the margin of victory should have been, at least, doubled. The goal-feast evening of football got underway as early as the 10th second of the opening whistle when Greg Foster’s misfired right-booter from inside the area rolled easily into the net to the Grenadian custodian’s far right and much to his surprise.
The boys from the Spice Isle immediately went in search of the equalizer creating several openings but unable to break through the Jamaican defense orchestrated by Captain Sergio Campbell.
In the 32nd minute goalkeeper Gregory McKogg and his skipper collided about the Penalty Mark. Campbell was floored and McKogg out of the goal as Kamal Samuel booted home from close range and the game was level again.
The young Reggae Boyz then applied relentless pressure on the Grenadian goal, resulting in Klinton Jones tipping over the bar a shot that was headed for goal as his keeper Clifton Ross was stranded out of position. Jones was ejected from the contest and Foster, West Moreland’s Reno Premier league player  stepped up to convert from the Mark. Seconds before the half time whistle Neco Brett skillfully chested-down the ball and fired a left volley, inside the box on the left, that rocketed pass Ross at the near post for a 3 -1 lead at the interval.
The Young Reggae Boyz took full advantage of the numerical advantage and in the 61st minute Allan Ottley ran unto a well measured thru pass to beat the advancing keeper for goal number four.
In the 75th minute Foster completed his hat-trick when he scored from the Penalty Mark and two minutes later the sealer which turned out to be the goal of the night. Excelceoir High’s Brett sent thru, cleverly and timely chipped the ball over the head of the advancing Ross from just inside the area to make it 6 -1,the final score.
In the feature game Guyana, urged on by the several hundred fans present, took the lead in the 14th minute as Captain Colin Nelson netted from the Penalty Mark after USVI’s defender Clifford Adams handled the ball in the area.
Twelve minutes on Telston McKinnon made it 2 – 0 as he cashed in on the failed attempt by goalkeeper Walton Stuart to hold the ball.
The USVI reduced the lead in the 34th minute when Guyana’s midfielder Garson Baker was blown for a reckless tackle inside the box and McDonald Taylor converted although Guyana’s custodian Richie Richards got a hand.
In the second segment the all green outfits were all over their opponents as the play was sustained inside the USVI’s half, but unimaginative finishing by the host let the Americans off.
Seven minutes into the second half left midfielder Eon Alleyne made it 3-1 as his curling right footed shot to the far post was partially parried by goalie Stuart, but only in helping the ball into the “V”.
Coach Braithwaite then made several changes, replacing Baker with Les Charles Critchlow (50’), Marco Marcus with Nicolas Parbudhial (72’) and McKinnon with Kevin Beaton (75’).
Within two minutes of being on the field Beaton made his presence known to make the score 4-1 and in the 84th minute Sheldon Holder finally found the back of the nets after several flops.