…Briggs hails team fight against Guatemala

Inspiring – the word most fitting to describe the Golden Jaguars’ performance against Guatemala on Saturday evening in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Guyana went down 4 – 0 and ended their hunt to qualify for the main draw for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. With 9,586 fans in attendance at Drive Pink Stadium – home of MLS side Inter Miami FC – the atmosphere was as if Guyana had travelled to Guatemala City to face their Central American counterparts. The two sides first met in 1987 at CONCACAF’s 1988 Olympic qualifier; Guatemala walked away 6 – 0 winners at the Estadio del Ejército, Guatemala City. Their other meetings saw Guatemala winning 3 – 0, and 2 – 0 at the Guyana National Stadium, making Saturday’s game even more interesting for Coach Marcio Maximo’s blended youth and some experienced side.

MAXIMO’S LAST CHANCE?
Much was riding on this game for Maximo, with the Brazilian coming off a disappointing run in Guyana’s quest to realize their FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup dream. In fact, prior to the clash with Guatemala, Maximo had stood in charge of the Golden Jaguars in ten outings, winning four matches, drawing one but with five losses since his August 21, 2019, appointment as head coach. Three of those losses came in the World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago (3 – 0), St Kitts and Nevis (3 – 0) and Puerto Rico (2 – 0).
Maximo’s fourth win at the helm of the National team came against Caribbean football’s minnows, The Bahamas (4 – 0).

As usual, Maximo raised many eyebrows with his team selection, as the team’s composition hinted to most football pundits that Guyana was ready to match the Guatemalans pace, especially in their attack. Guyana started with former Liverpool FC, now Cambridge United Goalkeeper, Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Captain Matthew Briggs, Reiss Greenidge, Terrence Vancooten and, as a shocker, Santos FC’s Nicholai Andrews and Job Caesar. Bournemouth FC’s Nathan Moriah-Welsh, along with Queens Park Rangers’ Stephen Duke McKenna, complemented Keanu Marsh-Brown and Emery Welshman upfront, while Daniel Wilson looked comfortable – the best he has been in the past few outings for Guyana.
HOLDING THEIR OWN
Guyana’s recent form, as compared to the Guatemalans, made the Golden Jaguars the underdogs, but Coach Maximo’s starting line-up matched the Spanish-speaking country’s strides, at least until Bolton Wanderers defender, Reiss Greenidge’s own goal in the 21st minute. Greenidge was having a good day until his untimely clearance of a Stheven Robles shot caught Guyana’s goalkeeper, Kai McKenzie-Lyle off guard and he didn’t recover in time. Despite the goal, Guyana, with a combination of Duke-McKenna and Moriah-Welsh, continued to create havoc up front for the Guatemalans, but the Golden Jaguars couldn’t convert. Things took an ugly turn for the Golden Jaguars, after Marsh-Browne, in the 40th minute, received a questionable red card from Costa Rican referee, Juan Gabriel Calderon, for a foul on Marco Dominguez. However, it was not smooth sailing for Guatemala though, playing a 10-man Golden Jaguars team, but goals from Luis Martinez, Darwin Lom, and Jose Martinez, at different intervals ended Guyana’s 2021 Gold Cup hunt.

BRIGGS PROUD
After the game, former Fulham FC and Colchester United defender and now National team Captain, Matthew Briggs, praised his side’s level of play, stating that “it’s always difficult when you down to ten men and I think the boys just went out of steam in the second half, which also led up to playing too deep and then we conceded (the) goals.” Briggs stated that he’s “proud of the team. “We gave everything we could, but it’s just unfortunate when that went down to ten men.” Guatemala will now face Guadeloupe on Tuesday, while for Guyana, all eyes will be on the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to see how they react and respond to the country’s exit from the Gold Cup qualifiers.