The Golden Jaguars maintained their perfect record in League B of the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League, laboring to a 3-2 victory over the Bahamas yesterday, with head coach Jamal Shabazz citing the poor state of the National Track and Field Center pitch as the reason for the team’s performance.
Speaking at the conclusion of the encounter to media operatives, Shabazz stated that while he is happy for the win, he would have preferred to play overseas and give up Guyana’s home game so the match could be staged on an ideal surface. According to Shabazz, the surface was not conducive to playing football and clearly affected the way the team wanted to play, noting that he dreams of the day when Guyana will have a quality surface.
The Golden Jaguar’s starting XI, which featured one change from their previous fixture against Antigua and Barbuda and contained five overseas-born and/or based players, comprised (GK) Quillan Roberts, Jeremy Garrett, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Omari Glasgow, Kelsey Benjamin, Liam Gordon, Curtez Kellman, Raushan Ritch, Daniel Wilson, Colin Nelson, and Elliot Bonds.
Gordon was denied in the 18th minute after striking a powerful strike from 30 yards in the center of the field, which was tipped over the crossbar by the custodian.
Glasgow was then thwarted, as his flat right-footed shot from inside the penalty area was denied by the hands of the goalkeeper in the 30th minute.
Unexpectedly, the Bahamas seized the lead in the 39th minute from the penalty spot, as Wood Julmis converted into the lower right corner after the visitors were awarded the spot-kick for a clumsy challenge inside the right side of the 18-yard area.
Bahamas’ lead proved to be short-lived, as Glasgow equalized under fortuitous circumstances in the 44th minute after his left-sided corner-kick sailed into the right side of the net after the cross was misjudged by the onrushing goalkeeper. It was Glasgow’s fourth conversion in two matches, following his hat-trick against Antigua and Barbuda. Following the resumption, Guyana secured the lead in the 54th minute following a moment of individual brilliance from Duke-McKenna, as he curled a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area into the top right corner of the net.
The Golden Jaguars doubled their advantage four minutes later, as Benjamin slotted into the back of the net after receiving a flat right-sided cross inside the left side of the 18-yard area.
Benjamin was then denied by the diving goalkeeper in the 71st minute after racing onto a through pass as his powerful strike from inside the penalty area was parried to safety.
The Bahamas eventually reduced the deficit in the 86th minute, as they were awarded another penalty due to a handball infraction, which was calmly placed into the lower left corner by Julmis, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process.
According to statistics from CONCACAF, Guyana completed 389 passes out of an attempted 447 at a conversion rate of 87%. This translated to 72% of possession. On the other hand, the Bahamas completed a meager 85 passes out of 127 at a rate of 67%. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico mauled Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 to remain atop the standings. Guyana will now lock horns with Puerto Rico on October 14th before the reverse fixture is staged on October 17th. The Golden Jaguars’ final two matches will occur on November 18th and November 21st, respectively, against the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda. In the 2022–2023 edition, Guyana ended up in second place with 10 points. In the inaugural 2019–2020 edition, Guyana finished in the runner-up spot in league B with nine points.
According to CONCACAF, a format change was implemented for the 2023–2024 edition, which resulted in no relegation of teams following the end of the 2022–2023 season. League A has been increased from 12 to 16 teams and will feature a quarterfinal section. The 12 lowest-ranked teams in League A will feature in a group stage comprising two pools of six, with the resulting group winner and runner-up advancing to the elimination section alongside the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica. The quarterfinal fixtures will utilize a home-and-away format.
The fifth and sixth-placed teams at the end of the group stage in League A will be relegated. Meanwhile, League C has been reduced from 12 to nine teams. The competing nations will be divided into three groups of three, with the resulting group winners and the best second-placed team in the division advancing to League B.
Point Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts.
Puerto Rico 2 2 – – 11 1 +10 6
Guyana 2 2 – – 8 3 +5 6
Bahamas 2 – 2 – 3 9 -6 0
Antigua & Barbuda 2 – 2 – 1 10 -9 0
