… teams fail to score in first encounter
GUYANA’S Alpha United only have themselves to blame for not winning their first game against River Plate of Puerto Rico when the two sides met on Friday evening at the Guyana National Stadium. The local national league champions could have ‘hammered’ the visitors were it not for their steady miss on goal, as the two sides played to a nil-all draw in round two of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships.
Today’s game at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, Bourda, will be a meeting with destiny since both teams are looking to advance to the next round where they will be heavily compensated and will move a step closer to playing in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The game was promoted with much hype, especially since the last time the two sides played in Trinidad and Tobago last year, they drew 1-1 and they were looking to make up and advance past the second round of the tournament for the first time.
Alpha, instead of looking overseas, thought it best to include some of the country’s top players in the likes of national striker Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, Devon Millington and Konata Manning, all of whom started alongside captain Howard Lowe, Abassi McPherson, Kevin McKenzie, Dwight Peters and Ronson Williams in goal.
From all indications, the home side seemed set to give the small crowd on hand something to cheer about from the kick-off with Millington making his way past some defenders using his quick step and good ball control. But in the end, his shot sailed wide of the goal and did no harm to the visitors’ custodian.
‘Zorro’ (Grant), as he is more popularly known, also foiled an almost certain goal after he too easily got around the River Plate defenders with less effort but his finishing was atrocious.
Alpha’s defence led by Lowe was just as powerful as their offence since the Puerto Ricans hardly had any chance on goal, giving Williams an easy first half.
But things took a turn for the worse, as McPherson was given marching orders midway the first half courtesy of a tackle which the referee thought was perilous. This reduced the home team to 10 men.
The game slowed up and became relatively boring as nothing worthy of note happened and the two sides ended the half, goalless, with the Alpha players feeling the brunt of not scoring certain goals.
In the second half, the visitors found some footing and saw their former Major League Soccer (MLS) New York Red Bulls striker Christopher Megaloudis start to get his way with Lowe’s defence.
However, Alpha through Peters, Codrington and Grant continued to pile on the pressure but none could pierce the nets of River Plate.
Realising that his team should keep River Plate on the defence even though they were a man short, Alpha and Guyana’s national coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover switched Codrington for Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, who immediately caused some problems for River Plate players.
But it was not a walk in the park as River Plate ended up having more ‘near-scoring’ opportunities which were all on target, but thanks to some excellent keeping from Williams, they were all denied.
On the opposite end, Abrams’ shot beat the  keeper after he made his way into the 18-yard area but it was sent hard and straight into the side post.
The stadium was in uproar since persons thought it was impossible for the goal not to be counted since the ball hit the iron and came out and from the angle, the ball had to cross the goal line.
But the referee said ‘play on’ and shortly after the game ended, as both sides realise that tonight it will be an all-out war.