Guyana’s senior football team, the Golden Jaguars, will attempt to overcome history when they battle Antigua and Barbuda today from 17:00hrs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in League B of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The contest will be the 10th meeting of the nations, with the visiting Guyanese contingent sporting a head-to-head record of three wins, two draws and four losses.
However, analysis of the aforesaid record reveals that Guyana’s last victory against the ‘Benna Boys’ occurred 13 years ago on November 2006 (6-0) in what was the fifth meeting of the teams. Their other two wins occurred on 24th February 2006 (2-1) and 26th February 2006 (4-1). Further examination indicates that the 176th FIFA ranked Guyana unit, who sit second in the group due to a superior goal differential, is winless in four consecutive matches against the 168th FIFA rated hosts.
While Guyana leads the historical offensive and defensive statistics with 16 and 12 goals respectively, in the four most recent matches against Antigua and Barbuda they have conceded an alarming eight goals while only scoring twice.
This is evident by the following results: September 2008 (3-0), November 2008 (2-1), June 2009 (2-1) and November 2010 (1-0). Guyana will also enter the crucial encounter on the back of a 4-0 home loss to Jamaica last month.
The aforementioned setback was the fifth for Guyana in their previous seven matches. Their only win during this period occurred against Aruba (1-0) in their Nations League opener.
A drawn result with Trinidad and Tobago (1-1) is sandwiched between losses to Bermuda (1-0), Haiti (3-1), USA (4-0), Panama (4-2) and the aforesaid Jamaican defeat. This translates to 17 goals conceded while five were scored.
Guyana’s 22 member squad reads: Goalkeepers Alex Murray [locally based], Akel Clarke [locally born], Sese Norville [overseas based]; Defenders Sam Cox [overseas based], Kadell Daniels [overseas based] Sherwin Skeete [locally based], Raphael Edwards [locally based], Kevin Layne [locally based], Kevin Dundas [locally based], Matthew Briggs [overseas based]; Midfielders Neil Danns [overseas based], Clive Nobrega [locally based], Daniel Wilson [locally based], Delwin Fraser [locally based], Elliot Bonds [overseas based], Trayon Bobb [locally based], Ryan Hackett [locally based]; Forwards Kelsey Benjamin [locally born], Keanu Marsh-Brown [overseas based], Pernell Schultz [locally based], Emery Welshman [overseas based] and Sheldon Holder [locally born].
Meanwhile, third placed Antigua and Barbuda possess a record of three wins in their six most recent matchups. Victories against Bahamas (6-0), Curacao (2-1) and Aruba (2-1) is offset by losses to St Lucia (3-0), Martinique (4-2) and Jamaica (6-0). Statistically, this equates to 12 goals scored and 15 conceded.
Guyana will host the reverse fixture against Antigua and Barbuda on Monday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
The final round of matches will then occur during the month of November. Guyana will host Aruba on the 15th, before traveling to Jamaica three days later.
The winner of the group will advance to the League A section of the competition in the subsequent edition.
