… lose 2-1 to T&T
TWO basic blunders virtually ended the dream of Guyana reaching a second Digicel Caribbean Cup football finals as they lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in their crucial Group ‘F’ fixture played last Thursday. The victory by the Trinbagonians confirmed their qualification for the finals to be played in Martinique later this month. It was their second win from as many games as they head the 4-team group going into the final games today.
The Guyanese were on the losing end for the first time in six outings and though fingers will be pointed to the two elementary mistakes made as the cause for the loss, the inept finishing once again showed its ugly face.
Guyana took the attack to the hosts from the opening minute and by the fifth minute got the first corner of the game. The left side corner by Walter Moore passed tantalisingly low across the goal inside the 6-yard box but no Guyanese was there.
In the 10th minute Anthony Abrams, inside the box, controlled a well-measured pass from Moore and turned it back for Dwain Jacobs just inside the area. Jacobs hesitated (when all alone) instead of shooting first time and the first opportunity went a-begging.
Guyana continued to control the opening minutes with Sean Cameron and Moore dictating the middle. In the 15th minute Jovin Jones struck a powerful left-booter which hit the crossbar and the Guyana defence was relieved.
At the other end Moore fired a 35-metre left-booter to stretch Jan Williams in goal as he tipped the ball around the left post for a corner.
Against the run of play the hosts broke the deadlock in the 34th minute in a most comical display by the Guyanese custodian Ronson Williams. A deep right side cross from Lester Peltier went through the hands of Williams and ended at the back of the nets rather calmly.
The score almost doubled within a minute but the goalkeeper’s best friend – the upright – came to the rescue after captain Clyde Leon cannoned a right-booter from the top of the box.
The Guyana team, still trying to recover, found themselves further behind three minutes from the half.
The exciting and nippy Devon Jorsling brought the over 2 000 fans at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium to their feet with a clinical display.
At the top of the box he collected a pass from his skipper Leon and in one motion he evaded an attempted tackle by Guyana’s captain Howard Lowe who was close-marking him.
Lowe was left helpless on the ground and Jorsling’s low left-booter went through the legs of Williams.
The Guyanese had a clear-cut chance to reduce the score one minute from the half but Abrams shot wide of the mark from close up after eluding two defenders.
Guyana came out flat in the second half and in the first minute Lowe was out-muscled by Jamal Gay who shot high over the bar from inside the area. Abrams three minutes later tamely hit to the Trinidadian custodian on a breakaway.
Both sides went to their bench after 15 minutes with Guyana taking out midfielders Sean Cameron and Jacobs.
Their replacements were Dwain Ali and Shawn Beveney who reduced the lead in the 78th minute with a well-placed right-booter from close up. Guyana applied tremendous pressure in the final 15 minutes but without success.
Tonight they take on St Vincent in their final game at 17:00 h, while Haiti tackle T&T. The Haitians boosted their chance of a place in the finals with a 3-1 win over St Vincent in Thursday’s first game.
They only need a draw while Guyana’s slim chance is dependant on a T&T win and a huge victory against the Vincy boys.
Guyana’s Coach Wayne Dover in a post-match comment stated, “You cannot make elementary mistakes at this level and hope to win. We are all disappointed. At times we showed disorganisation and lacked leadership which is important on the field,” Dover stressed.