Jaguars defeat Aruba

The Golden Jaguars maintained their perfect record against Aruba, defeating the visiting side by a 4-2 scoreline yesterday in League B of the CONCACAF Nations League at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

In what was the fourth ever meeting of the nations [4-0, 3-0 and 1-0 wins in 1991, 1992 and 2019 respectively], Guyana prevailed, led by a double from Trayon Bobb in the 53rd and 73rd minute alongside solitary strikes from Matthew Briggs and Callum Harriott in the seventh and 44th minute apiece.

With the result, Guyana moved onto nine points and solidified the second position. Guyana’s starting XI consisted of Quillan Roberts [GK], Briggs, Terrence Vancooten, Sam Cox, Kadell Daniels, Daniel Wilson, Clive Nobrega, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Bobb, Harriott and Emery Welshman.

The match started poorly for the 174th ranked home side as a defensive error led to the opening goal in the second minute. Custodian Roberts was the culprit, as he raced off his line to clear the danger, only to miss the ball which allowed Glenbert Croes to slot home unchallenged.

The lead was short-lived as Guyana responded five minutes later through Briggs, who volleyed into the left corner from inside the six-yard area, after racing onto a right-side cross from left-back Daniels.

Ranked 195th, Aruba then retook the lead in the 27th minute via the penalty spot following an infraction. Tasked with the responsibility from the distance, Gregor Breinburg made no mistake, as he placed his left foot effort beyond the reach of the diving goalkeeper into the lower right corner.

Harriott was then denied the equalizer in the 36th minute, cutting in from the right side on his favoured left foot, before uncorking a powerful effort which forced a smart save from the goalkeeper to his left.

Another quality save from Eric Abdul in the 39th minute denied Harriott, as his thunderous left-foot strike from 22 yards out in the centre of the field was palmed away by the diving custodian, this time to his right.

Nonetheless, the third time was the charm for Harriott, whose left foot dagger from 21 yards out on the right side of the field, fizzed into the lower right corner.

The start of the second half almost mirrored the first, as Aruba was handed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 51st minute, as Croes raced onto a through pass to be in a one on one situation with Roberts, only to fire a tame effort straight at the body of the goalkeeper.

Once again Aruba’s failure to convert would-be punished as Bobb opened his account. Racing into the left of the penalty box to latch onto a through pass, Bobb fired his effort through the legs of the goalkeeper into the right corner, following a one on one situation.

Bobb then sealed his brace 18 minutes before the end of regulation time, controlling a through pass before rounding the advancing goalkeeper and finishing into the right corner.

Guyana will now end their group campaign against undefeated host nation Jamaica on November 18th. Winner of the group will advance to the League-A section of the competition in the subsequent edition.