THE National Beach Soccer team made history on Wednesday evening, with a 4-1 win over Belize in their third game at the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in the Bahamas.The team, who were already breaking new ground for Guyanese men’s football with their debut in a CONCACAF finals tournament, lost their opening two matches to hosts Bahamas (1-4) and Jamaica (3-6).
But, in a sign of good things for the future, the squad dug deep and bounced back in their final group match. Deshawn Joseph netted twice, 4th and 29th minutes, Jahshawn Moore in the 24th and Jamal Haynes in the 25th. Haynes also scored an own goal in the 5th to seal a comfortable win.
Guyana finished third in Group A on three points, below Bahamas and Jamaica who will now progress to the knockout, quarter-final rounds. Guyana will now take part in the placement rounds, which decide the final standings between 9 and 16.
The landmark win in Nassau could see Guyana enter beach soccer’s world rankings for the first time. Belize are ranked 89th out of 112, Jamaica stand at 70, with the Bahamas at 56.
In February 2016, Guyana’s Women’s National Team secured a memorable 2-1 win against Guatemala in the 2016 CONCACAF finals tournament.