The Lady Jaguars and Nicaragua played to a dour scoreless stalemate in their group F fixture, when the 2022 Concacaf W Championship Qualifiers resumed yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Guyana entered the contest on the back of two consecutive wins after victories over Dominica (4-0) and Turks and Caicos (7-0) to sit atop the pool on six points while Nicaragua entered the contest in third place on three points after losing to Trinidad and Tobago (1-2), and defeating Turks and Caicos (19-0).
Guyana’s starting XI which featured no locally based player, comprised Chante Sandiford (GK), Rylee Traicoff, Kayla DeSouza, Sydney Cummings, Ghilene Joseph, Justine Rodriguez, Shanice Alfred, Briana DeSouza, Calaigh Copland, Stefani Kouzas, and Brianne Desa.
The Guyanese play could be described as defensively sound but offensively abject, as the visitors were the main protagonists for the entirety of the contest.
The Central Americans dictated the tempo of the clash after securing the lion’s share of possession, with the host content to defend and play on the counterattack.
Guyana’s only noteworthy effort of the first half occurred in the 38th minute when a Cummings right footed free kick from the left of the field settled into the grasp of the custodian. For the visitors, Yessina fashioned their first chance in the 41st minute, curling a left-footed effort over the crossbar from outside the right of the penalty area.
Lisbeth Moreno was also denied in the 45th+2 minute, as her left-footed shot from inside the left of the area was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Sandiford.
Although the introduction of Annalisa Vincent, and Otesha Charles brought a more direct threat for the Guyanese, the Nicaraguans recorded the first chance of the period when Martha Silva placed her effort at the goalkeeper from the top of the box in the 52nd minute.
On the other side, the speedy Vincent uncorked a right footed effort straight at the goalkeeper in the 63rd minute from inside the box, after racing away from her marker, following a counterattack.
Nicaraguan midfield pivot Jaclyn Gilday was also denied by the goalkeeper in the 77th minute, as her curling effort from just outside the area was caught smartly by the opposing shot-stopper.
Equally, Flores was denied in 86th minute, racing into the right side of the area before rifling a powerful shot which was denied by the diving Sandiford.
Due to the result, Guyana stays atop the standings on seven points whilst the Nicaraguans remain on four points and sit in third position. Guyana will now travel to unbeaten Trinidad and Tobago for their final match on Tuesday. The Guyanese will need a victory against the hosts to guarantee their berth in the next round.
The 2022 Concacaf W Championship serves as the confederation’s qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
It also serves the pathway for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.
