Guyana snapped their five-game losing streak to Antigua and Barbuda, hammering the visitors 5-1 yesterday in League-B of the CONCACAF Nations League at the National Track and Field Center, Leonora.
It was an improved offensive showing from the hosts who had suffered defeat at the hands of the Antiguans (2-1) three days earlier at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium.
West Demerara native Trayon Bobb effectively settled what was the 11th meeting of the nations with a first half double in the second and 28th, ending the 13 year drought against the ‘Benna Boys’.
The other goal scorers were Sheldon Holder, Kadell Daniels and Pernell Schultz in the 65th, 77th and 90th minute respectively.
The win was the second for the Guyanese in nine outings. It was also the second for newly appointed head-coach Marcio Maximo in his fourth match reign.
With the result, Guyana move into the second position on six points, leapfrogging the visitors due to a superior goal difference.
The Golden Jaguars starting XI consisted of Akel Clarke, Kevin Layne, Matthew Briggs, Sam Cox, Daniels, Clive Nobrega, Neil Danns, Bobb, Daniel Wilson, Kelsey Benjamin and Emery Welshman.
It was a dream start for the Guyanese as a flicked on header from the top of the box by Benjamin, allowed Bobb to round the goalkeeper and finish into the back of the net.
Guyana should have increased their lead in 12th minute, but a volley from Danns inside the center of the box, was tipped acrobatically over the crossbar by the goalkeeper.
However, the small crowd that gathered at the venue would not have to wait long to celebrate as Bobb raced onto a through pass inside the right of the box, before finishing past the advancing goalkeeper into the lower left corner.
On the other side, Antigua and Barbuda’s best chance occurred in the 35th minute as a thumping volley from 30 yards out in the center of the field fizzed past the top left corner.
The contest started brightly for the visitors in the second half as Nathaniel Jarvis reduced the deficit in the 48th, slotting into the right hand corner after receiving a flat left side cross.
Guyana should have restored their advantage in the 52nd minute. Latching onto a loose ball following a desperate clearance from onrushing goalkeeper, Holder fired his effort wide of the empty net from the top of the 18 yard box.
Holder would make amends for his earlier miss, gliding his header into the left hand corner, following a right side corner kick.
A Daniels conversion made it 4-1 as a left sided corner-kick deceived the entire back line and took a deflection off the goalkeeper and settled into the left corner.
Schultz then capped off the clinical performance for the host, racing onto a through pass inside the box, before finishing past the goalkeeper into the right side.
The final round of matches will occur during the month of November. Guyana will host Aruba on the 15th, before traveling to Jamaica three days later.
Winner of the group will advance to the League-A section of the competition in the subsequent edition.
Complete Results
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts.
Jamaica 3 3 0 0 12 0 +12 9
Guyana 4 2 2 0 7 7 0 6
Antigua 4 2 2 0 5 13 -8 6
Aruba 3 0 3 0 1 5 -4 0
