The Golden Jaguars 2022 FIFA World Cup hopes were officially extinguished after they lost by an embarrassing 0-3 score to host nation St. Kitts and Nevis yesterday at the Warner Park Sporting Complex in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
It was an abject performance from the visitors whose offensive game plan can be typified as possession without penetration, which allowed the hosts to maintain their unbeaten record against the Guyanese contingent.
Guyana’s starting XI comprised of Kai-McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Terrence Vancooten, Miguel Scarlett, Matthew Briggs, Liam Gordon, Daniel Wilson, Bayli Spencer-Adams, Omari Glasgow, Pernell Schultz, Stephen Duke-McKenna and Keanu Marsh-Brown.
The contest got off to the worst possible start for the Golden Jaguars who conceded a penalty in the eighth minute. Keithroy Freeman, who was tasked with the responsibility from the penalty mark, made no mistake as he dispatched his left footed effort into the back of the net.
St. Kitts and Nevis almost doubled their lead in the 14th minute but an attempted strike was desperately cleared off the goal-line by the retreating rearguard.
For the visitors, Marsh-Brown recorded Guyana’s only noteworthy attempt of the period in the 20th minute, flashing his effort wide of the right corner from inside the six yard area, following a right cross from the right side of the field.
The ‘Sugar Boyz’ would eventually double their advantage in the 34th minute as Freeman recorded his second. Lurking within the six-yard area, Freeman re-directed an initial strike from within the right of the penalty area, into the lower left hand corner of the net.
Guyana started the second period by opting to utilise substitutes Job Caesar and Trayon Bobb who replaced Spencer-Adams and Glasgow respectively. The alterations to the personnel did not change their fortunes and St. Kitts almost grabbed their third in the 65th minute but a powerful strike from the right of the box was tipped to safety by custodian McKenzie-Lyle.
Nonetheless, St. Kitts and Nevis would not be denied as the eventual third conversion was recorded two minutes later via Romaine Sawyers. Prowling at the top of the 18-yard area, Sawyers calmly slotted his right footed effort into the lower left corner, after receiving a simple pass from the left of the penalty box.
Guyana would record their only meaningful effort of the period in the 83rd minute when Scarlett uncorked a right-footed strike from the centre of the field, which was tipped smartly around the left upright by the opposing custodian.
With the result, Guyana dropped into fourth position on three points, while St. Kitts and Nevis maintained their unbeaten record and consolidated their position atop the standings on nine points. Guyana will now end their dismal campaign against Puerto Rico at the same venue on Tuesday.
