A terrific night of football it was at the Guyana National Stadium when the Golden Jaguars hosted the El Salvadorians in the return match of their round-three 2014 World Cup Qualifiers last night, but the host lost 2 – 3.

That win took El Salvador to six points in Group B while Guyana remained on one point. On the other hand, that lost meant the end of Guyana’s hopes of progressing to the fourth round.
Up to press time last night Mexico were up 1 – 0 against Costa Rica in the 65th minute. At the start of the night Mexico was on top of the points table with nine points while Costa Rica was second with four points.
The 90-odd minutes of action showed a battle from the opening whistle. In the first 45 minutes, Guyana undoubtedly got off to the best start of their qualifiers when Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson finished clinically in the first minute after he received a terrific ball on top of the 18 yard box from Carl Cort on the left flank.
As the match progressed Guyana kept turning on the pressure with a boost of confidence from the opening goal. However, the opposition would find the equaliser in the 12th minute in a similar fashion to Guyana’s goal.
Rafael Burgos came storming down Guyana’s left flank challenged by JP Rodrigues but the challenge was not enough to prevent the cross which found Osael Romero inside the six-yard box who finished with a lovely header.
Guyana had more shots on goal in the first half but the possession was almost equally shared. Burgos and Eliseo Quintanilla were a handful for Rodrigues and Walter Moore on the flanks but they managed to keep them at bay until half time.
Jackie Chan was in his usual unselfish mood as he created dangerous plays near goal while the captain Chris Nurse kept the midfield intact and the veteran Charles Pollard commanded the defensive line.
Guyana played a 4-4-2 formation which varied to a 4-4-1-1 while the opposition also played a 4-4-2 formation.
The second half saw El Salvador claim the lead in the 56th minute when Jaime Alas scored from a corner kick, but Guyana equalized in the 62nd minute from the boot of the captain, Nurse.
From there it was a see-saw battle with the sides trading shots for the lead. Unfortunately for the home side it was the guests who went ahead in the 76th minute. Burgos scored what looked like the decider which silenced the National Stadium that had a turnout of about six thousand spectators.
Fans began heading for the exit when three minutes of injuries and stoppages time was signaled because all hope was lost.
However, all hope was not lost in the middle; Moore was fouled inside the 18 yard box in the second minute of injuries and stoppages time which gave Guyana a gifted penalty attempt.
With a chance to equalise, Carl Cort’s patted attempt was denied by the opposition’s custodian Dagoberto Portillo which in turn was Guyana’s final chance at going home with at least a draw.