A 90th+2 minute header from striker Levi Garcia denied Guyana from securing the inaugural Courts Caribbean Classic title, levelling the contest for host nation Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) 1-1 yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Needing a win against the home side to secure the championship owing to an inferior goal differential in the three-nation tournament [T&T defeated Barbados 9-0, Guyana dismissed Barbados 5-0], the Guyanese were of equal measure to their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts for the majority of the contest.
Guyana’s starting XI comprised Quincy Adams, Omar Glasgow, Akel Clarke, Trayon Bobb, Neil Danns, Terrell Ondaan, Sam Cox, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Daniel Wilson, Leo Lovell, and Jeremy Garrett.
Danns almost broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, flashing a powerful right-footed effort towards the left corner of the net from outside the centre of the area. Nonetheless, Danns, who scored against the Barbadians following his return to the squad since 2019, handed Guyana the lead in the 59th minute from the penalty spot.
It was a clinical finish from the veteran midfielder after being awarded the spot-kick and he dispatched his effort past the opposing custodian to hand the visitors the lead.
With the seconds winding down, and the possibility of Guyana securing their first win against Trinidad and Tobago on foreign soil since 1978, Garcia ensured the home side secured the coveted title and maintained their historical grip on the contest, as he converted in the dying embers of the contest.
Rising high to connect to a left sided corner-kick, the AEK Athens forward Garcia placed his effort into the left corner to break Guyanese hearts, and sealed what was the seventh drawn result between the nations.
With the outcome Guyana ended the tournament in second place with a record of one win and draw and a goal differential of +5. On the other hand, the home side clinched the title with an identical record of one win and a draw but a superior goal difference of +9.
