By Calvin Roberts
Host Suriname needled Guyana 1-0 in the first game of their home and away World Cup 2010 qualifier when the two teams met at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium Saturday afternoon.
After a goalless first half, Suriname’s Clifton Sanduliet latched onto a weak clearance from Guyana’s right back Carey Harris in the 53rd minute following a cross from Emilio Lymon that custodian Richard Reynolds failed to gather cleanly and calmly found the back of the net.
Guyana started the proceedings in front of a sold out venue, when they won the right to kick the ball first but it was the host who signalled their intentions early when Sanduliet sent his shot over the uprights following a gem of a pass from Wensley Christophe.
Following Sanduliet’s threat, Collie Hercules wormed his way inside the 18-yard box but found it impossible to get a shot off due to the defence of Dervick Garden who had a magnificent game at the back for Suriname.
As the visitors tried to gain the advantage with some spirited runs, the Surinamese remained calm and counter-attacked with some runs of their own which left the Guyanese defence bewildered at times.
Walter ‘Boyd’ Moore is known for his never-say-die attitude at the back, but Christophe was making him his target throughout the game with his dazzling footwork that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd and at times a round of applause.
Captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard made a spirited run from his centre back position in the 15th minute of the first half, but after attempting a one-two with Hercules, the latter held onto the ball one second too long and when he did pass the ball, Pollard was caught in the offside trap along with Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson.
Two minutes later, Richardson won a free kick but the ensuing shot taken by Kayode Mc Kinnon was well saved by Suriname ’s custodian Ronny Aloema who was later called into action in the 37th minute following a rocket-like shot from Richardson which rebounded off his chest. Luckily for him and unfortunately for Guyana , no one was in position to take the rebound.
Shortly after Pollard’s run, Hercules received a gem of a pass from Moore who was on one of his overlapping runs but failed to get a shot off as he slipped over the ball. It was clear to all that the Guyanese were intent in facing their opponent’s custodian in a one-on-one situation instead of shooting from within and at times outside the box, something their opponents were doing repeatedly.
Suriname’s Emilio Limon was having a gem of a game for his country and in one of his moves, he made Moore look like a peewee footballer following some exciting footwork, but his shot from just outside the box was well saved by Reynolds.
It was all Suriname from there onwards as they dominated the game in Guyana’s half which enabled Rinaldo Lupson to get a shot off which went wide of the uprights.
Melvin Valies, another Suriname player who was having a glorious day in the field, then flew the off side trap, but lost control which permitted the hard working Pollard to make an easy clearance.
Valies then tried to send his team into the lead after receiving a neat pass from Sanduliet in the 25th minute, but his shot was wide of the mark with Reynolds well beaten.
Guyana’s England-based forward Dwaine Jacobs, who at times was guilty of over dribbling the ball, made an attempt to find Hercules but Garden intercepted the pass with a header. The Guyanese had numerous opportunities to seize the initiative, but the players chose to either over dribble the ball or tried to get closer to the goal area and lost possession.
When the sound of referee Jose Rene Riva Guerrero’s whistle went to signal lemon time, neither team was able to find the back of the net despite their efforts.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first one was completed with the home team looking to surge ahead whilst the visitors were still trying to come to grips with the conditions which were heavy for a game of such magnitude.
Christophe continued to mesmerize the Guyanese and could deem himself unlucky when he saw a powerful shot which he sent from the left of the box magnificently saved by Reynolds.
At the other end, Hercules had a clear cut opportunity to send a shot off but instead of shooting, he chose to dribble Aloema the Surinamese custodian and even after doing so successfully, ended up at a wide angle and was unable to get a shot off as Aloema had recovered.
The resulting save spelled trouble for Guyana as Aloema sent a long ball to Limon who worked his way deep into Guyana ’s half.
His cross was fumbled by Reynolds and the ensuing clearance from Harris fell into the path of Sanduliet who did not emulate either Hercules from Guyana or his own teammates as he calmly placed the ball in the back of the net.
The goal brought a renewed life into the hosts who saw it fit to harass their visitors’ defence at will and were it not for the efforts of Pollard and Reynolds, the margin of defeat for Guyana would have been wider.
Guyana ’s Technical Director Jamaal Shabbazz substituted Hercules and Jacobs and brought in Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and Konata Mannings respectively.
Even though Suriname was reduced to 10 men following the ejection of Lupson, who received his second caution of the game in the second half, the Guyanese failed to penetrate the host’s defence and when they did, which was on a rare occasion, Aloema was equal to the task with his saves.
Richardson then made a spirited effort to get the equalizer for his country but his pass was intercepted by Garden. He tried to make amends one minute later when he rounded his marker and sent the ball across his opponents goal area but to his dismay there was no Golden Jaguar lurking to pounce on same with Aloema out of the picture.
The sound of Guerrero whistle signalled the end of the game and the Golden Jaguars must now win by two clear goals in the return fixture that is scheduled for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Sunday.
