Like the dark clouds which hovered over the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, the signs were ominous for the Golden Jaguars against the visiting Haitians in League B in the Concacaf Nations League.
The forewarning unfortunately duly unfolded for the Guyanese, as Haiti, who maintained their unbeaten historical record, embarrassed Guyana 6-2 in what was the largest defeat to the French speaking nation in history, besting the previous 3-1 record.
In what was Haiti’s first visit to local shores since their maiden 1973 tour, the sixth contest between the nations was essentially over at the end of the first half when five goals were conceded in a period which could have easily witnessed seven or eight conversions.
Golden Jaguars Head-coach Jamaal Shabazz, in a post-match comment said, “Certainly it was not the result we wanted. The team succumbed to the long ball and it took 45 minutes for them to adjust to that. We had experienced players on the pitch but they couldn’t deal with it how we would have liked.”
He disclosed that team selection was influenced by injuries to key players, admitting that the team was outplayed in the first half but improved and created opportunities as the match progressed.
Shabazz added, “It’s going to be tough but we go forward with courage and with confidence. Hopefully, we will see something more special from this… It will test our character, being slaughtered at home and then going to Santo Domingo.”
The West Coast Demerara venue felt more like Port-au-Prince, as several throngs of Haitians descended on the venue and made their voices heard.
Guyana’s starting XI comprised Quillan Roberts, Matthew Briggs, Jalen Jones, Leo Lovell, Sam Cox, Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb, Omari Glasgow, Neil Danns, Emery Welshman and Nathan Moriah-Welsh.
The rout commenced in the fourth minute following a miscommunication between the goalkeeper and the defender. An initial strike was cleared off the goal-line, only for the ball to fall into the path of Dany Jean who rifled his effort into the roof of the net.
Another defensive error led to the Haitians taking a 2-0 lead as a poor attempted clearance landed into the path of the onrushing Steeven Saba who uncurled a right footed effort into the top right corner from just inside the centre of the box in the ninth minute.
Guyana would eventually pull one back in the 11th minute through Welshman, who slotted his first time effort into the lower right corner after receiving a squared pass from the left side.
Derrick Etienne Jr. was denied in the 35th minute at point blank range by the goalkeeper following a one-on-one situation. Haiti eventually restored their two goal advantage at 3-1 in the 38th minute via Carnejy Antoine as he directed his unchallenged header into the left corner from inside the centre of the box, after latching onto a simple cross from the right side.
The scoreline started to get embarrassing at 4-1 when Etienne Jr., scored into the lower left corner from inside the left of the box. The goal emanated from a missed challenge by the final defender during a counterattack which resulted in a two-on-one situation, as Etienne Jr., received a right side pass unchallenged.
The scoreline ballooned once more in the 43rd minute when Etienne Jr., made his presence felt once more to complete his double, slotting into the lower right corner, after receiving a squared pass from the right side following a swift counterattack.
Guyana eventually netted another goal in the 44th minute when Moriah-Welsh rifled a powerful shot from outside the centre of the box into the lower left corner.
If the first half could be described as a sprint, the second period could be defined as a marathon. It was contested at a much slower tempo, with Haiti satisfied to maintain their sizable advantage. Guyana’s best chance in the period occurred through Welshman in the 65th minute but he fired wide of the lower left corner from inside the right of the penalty box.
Nevertheless, the result was completed in the 80th minute as Fredler Christophe netted the sixth for the visitors, slamming home into the roof of the net after collecting a left sided cross, following a prolonged period of possession inside the penalty area.
With the result, Haiti climbed atop the standings on seven points, while Guyana dropped to second place and remained on six points. Guyana now will face off with the Haitians in the return match at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
