With the sounding of the official’s whistle, Guyana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals were extinguished, going down to St. Vincent and Grenadines 4-4 on the away goal rule in a heart-breaker yesterday at the National Stadium in Providence.
It was the first home loss for the Golden Jaguars against a CFU nation since 2007 as the Vincentians overcame a first leg score of 2-2 to progress to the next round, stunning the medium size sea of yellow viewership.
A double from Tevin Slater in the 40th and 47th minutes led the way for the visitors while Myron Samuel and Oalex Anderson supported with solo efforts in the 16th and 66th minutes respectively. For Guyana, Emery Welshman netted a double in the 39th and 77thminutes while Neil Danns recorded a brace in the 48th and 86th minutes.
With the draw, the aggregate over the two legs finished 6-6, but Guyana were eliminated on the away goals rule after the visitors scored four goals away from home compared to the Golden Jaguar’s two goals.
Head-Coach Jamal Shabazz during a post-match briefing said he thought his side didn’t do well on the defensive end which ultimately led to their elimination. He noted that while conceding so many goals on the international circuit is never good, the team must be given credit for the valiant effort after continuously battling from behind.
According to Shabazz, while the selection of the team is always a tricky area, the result of the matchup was not affected by the selection but simply decided by poor defensive discipline of the team.
Shabazz further said that the team was not defeated tonight but simply lost the opportunity to progress, noting that while the team cannot qualify for the World Cup the national programme must continue to be built and that playing on international dates is important to developing the younger players.
With Matthew Briggs unable to play due to illness, Guyana’s starting XI consisted of Akel Clarke, Sam Cox, Jamal Smith, Colin Nelson, Walter Moore, Brandon Beresford, Chris Nurse, Neil Danns, Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb and Emery Welshman.
St. Vincent started with Winslow McDowall, Dorren Hamlet, Ray Richard, Myron Samuel, Emerald George, Reginald Richardson, Cornelius Stewart, Kevin Francis, Jolanshoy McDowall, Oalex Anderson and Tevin Slater.
The visitors would start the fixture the better of the two sides and would get off to the perfect start as a Myron Samuel left sided cornerkick, evaded everyone including the onrushing custodian and settled into the right hand corner, stunning the medium sized gathering.
Growing impatient with their team’s lack of penetration, Danns would orchestrate the first real attempt on goal for Guyana in the 36th minute and his right footed strike from the right side of the box, crashed into the left post and miraculously rolled across the goal-mouth, much to the disbelief of the crowd. The gathering, however, would not be denied from celebrating as Welshman equalised three minutes later, directing his clinical header from within the six yard box into the top right corner, after leaping to meet a Cox right sided cross.
The deafening sounds of the celebrations would quickly become muted as Slater pushed his side back into the lead one minute later, slotting home into the roof of the goal, after a low right sided cross from Stewart initiated a goal mouth scramble following botched clearance which resulted in the loose ball being stabbed into his direction.
With Ricky Shakes making an entrance for Wilson at the start of the second period, Guyana would level the score three minutes into the resumption as Danns converted from the penalty mark.
Awarded the spot-kick following a contentious aerial battle, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder would breathe life into the Guyanese cause as he finished his right footed strike into the lower left corner.
Similar to the first period, the Vincentians would not be overawed by the situation, retaking the lead through Slater 12 minutes into the period through a clinical placed strike into the lower right corner after controlling a perfectly lobbed pass within the left side of the box.
The visitors would then increase their lead nine minutes later in sublime fashion as Anderson unleased a perfectly placed bicycle kick, to steal the show.
Rising high in the air to meet a flicked on pass with his back to goal, Anderson would unleash a powerful right footed effort that screamed into the back of the net, drawing praises from even the most ardent of Golden Jaguars supporters.
Sensing their World Cup aspirations fading away and with Bobb making way for Marcel Barrington in the 72nd minute, Welshman would pull Guyana within one five minutes later, lobbing his shot over into empty net from outside the area after pouncing on miscommunication between the defender and the onrushing custodian.
With everyone on their feet urging the team forward, Danns would send the crowd into a frenzy, equalising five minutes later with a finish into the lower left corner from just outside the area, after being receiving a pass from Welshman.
Nonetheless, the visitors would see out the remaining minutes of the fixture to clinch their berth in the next round, breaking Guyanese hearts in the process.
