The Golden Jaguars advanced to the final round in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims, besting Grenada 5-3 on kicks from the penalty mark, after regulation time ended 1-1 on Saturday evening at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Elliot Bonds commenced the penalty shoot-out for Guyana and converted down the centre of the net. Grenada was also clinical as they scored to make it 1-1 through Regan Charles-Cook. Omari Glasgow, Guyana’s scorer in normal time, made no mistake from the distance as he finished into the lower left corner.
Grenada also converted via Myles Hippolyte though under fortuitous circumstances as the strike went through the grasp of the goalkeeper to level proceedings at 2-2. Stephen Duke Mc-Kenna converted for Guyana whilst Kairo Mitchell netted for Grenada as the score ballooned to 3-3.
Kelsey Benjamin then scored into the left corner to make it 4-3 to start the fourth round. Goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle then denied Jacob Berkeley Agyepong with an outstretched left hand to hand the Jaguars the lead. The result was then confirmed when Daniel Wilson converted into the right corner. It was the eighth victory for Guyana against the ‘Spice Boys’.
Prior to the abovementioned outcome, Guyana’s starting XI which comprised only one locally born player in Glasgow, consisted of McKenzie-Lyle, Jonathan Grant, Jalen Jones, Samuel Cox, Emery Welshman, Kadell Daniels, Liam Gordon, Neil Danns, Deon Moore, and Bonds. The fixture started brightly for Guyana and they were awarded a penalty kick in the 19th minute following the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee for a handball infraction, after an initial Glasgow header struck the outstretched hand of the defender. Tasked with the responsibility from the distance, Danns would be denied by the goalkeeper to his right who pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
However, Guyana would not be denied as Glashow scored with a moment of individual brilliance, uncorking a powerful strike from 24 yards out into the centre of the field which settled into the lower left corner. The score would remain unchanged heading into the halftime interval. Gordon almost increased Guyana’s advantage in the 47th minute, blasting a left footed strike onto the crossbar after racing into the centre of the box.
Grenada eventually grabbed the equaliser following a sustained spell of pressure, as a flat cross from the left side of the penalty box was deflected into the right corner by the onrushing forward Kairo Mitchell in the 60th minute.
Danns was then denied in the 77th minute from inside the right of the penalty area after his effort was thwarted by the leg of the defender. Guyana will now oppose Guadeloupe tomorrow [Tuesday] at the same venue for a place in the Gold Cup, which would be their second official appearance in the tournament. Guadeloupe crushed Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 in their playoff encounter on Friday.
