The Lady Jaguars failed to advance from group C in the CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championship, as they battled to a 0-0 affair in a must-win encounter against hosts Dominican Republic yesterday at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium.
With both teams entering the match on six points, the Dominican Republic only required a draw to advance to the championship stage penciled for May due to their superior goal difference. The hosts ended the tournament on seven points with a +18 differential, while Guyana also finished on seven points but with a weaker +16 goal difference.
Guyana’s starting XI remained unchanged from first two matches and comprised: Nya-Grace Young, Savannah Singh, Shamya Daniels, Sandra Johnson, Jalade Trim, Glendy Lewis, Anika Sproxton, Heike Clarke, Samantha Benfield, Jayda Schoburgh, and Se-Hanna Mars.
However, the Lady Jaguars suffered a major setback as top scorer with eight conversions Mars suffered an injury in the 10th minute and had to be substituted.
Guyana’s best chance of the first period and practically in the entire game occurred in the 24th minute via a powerful strike from Bamfield from outside the centre of the box which forced a smart save from the goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Young was pivotal in ensuring Guyana kept a clean sheet in the contest, as she produced several notable saves.
Young denied the Dominicans in the 53rd minute with a brilliant diving save to her left to thwart a curling right footed shot from outside the centre of the box
The woodwork also came to Guyana’s rescue in the 56th minute as a flat shot from inside the box, following a goal mouth scramble which emanated from a right sided cross struck the left upright.
