Head coach Jamaal Shabazz said it best.
It was a dog-fight. And the Jaguars, though they did not maul their opponents, did enough to come away with a 2-1 defeat of Bermuda to continue their perfect campaign in League B of the Concacaf Nations League, yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
“I am very happy with the result, it was certainly not a game where we dominated. It was a hard-fought win and by no means an easy win. Many parts of the game was a dog fight, we were very happy to get three points,” said Shabazz after the victory.
According to Shabazz, the team needs to improve on defending set pieces and dead ball situations but he did say that he was confident in the spirit of the team matching the quality of the Haitians, their next oppponents.
Meanwhile, goal-scorer Omari Glasgow, said that it was a good performance from a team standpoint, adding that from an individual perspective, he can improve, as much is expected.
Guyana’s starting XI for the match comprised Quillan Roberts (GK), Sam Cox, Jalen Jones, Quincy Adams, Leo Lovell, Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb, Neil Danns, Terrell Ondaan, Stephen Duke-McKenna, and Omari Glasgow.
Guyana recorded the first attempt of the contest in the 15th minute when McKenna fired a tame shot straight at the goalkeeper from inside the left of the penalty area. Experienced midfielder Danns then uncorked a powerful right footed strike from the top of the box in the 17th minute, which fizzed wide of the right corner.
Glasgow also forced a smart save from the goalkeeper with his outstretched leg in the 22nd minute with a first time strike from inside the right of the penalty box. For Bermuda, Nakhi Wells was denied in the 30th minute by custodian Roberts to his right from inside the area.
Wells then spurned a great opportunity to hand the visitors the lead two minutes later but his chipped shot following a one-on-one situation, was thwarted by the advancing goalkeeper.
Guyana would eventually seize the deserved lead in the 35th minute when Bobb found the back of the net. Racing onto a reverse pass from McKenna, the wily Bobb blasted his effort past the goalkeeper into the left corner from inside the left of the 18-yard area.
The Golden Jaguars lead proved to be short lived as Dante Leverock equalized in the 42nd minute.
It was a moment of individual brilliance, as the centre-half uncorked an overhead volley into the left side after latching onto a cross from the right side.
Guyana would respond in equal measure to restore their one goal advantage through Glasgow, who rifled a powerful shot into the left corner from inside the right side of the box in the 45th+2 minute.
The second half can be best described as cagey as it failed to match the intensity of the first period. Roberts maintained Guyana’s one goal lead with a full stretch diving save to deny a curling shot from the left of the box in the 83rd minute.
Bermuda was then reduced to 10 players, after Oliver Harvey was sent off in the 88th minute for a reckless challenge on McKenna in an effort to thwart a counterattack.
The resulting free kick just outside the penalty area from Glasgow, was tipped over the crossbar by the goalkeeper. Glasgow should have added to his tally and increased Guyana’s lead in the 90th+2 minute firing wide unchallenged from inside the centre of the area, after receiving a cross from the left side.
Guyana will now turn their attention to Haiti on Saturday at the same venue. Meanwhile, in the second match of the group, Haiti defeated Montserrat 3-2.
Group-B Point Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts.
Guyana 2 2 – – 4 2 +2 6
Haiti 2 1 – 1 3 2 +1 4
Bermuda 2 – 1 1 1 2 -1 1
Montserrat 2 – 2 – 3 5 -2 0
