Guyana’s qualification to League A in the CONCACAF Nations League was sealed in a sublime manner, as they crushed Antigua and Barbuda 6-0 yesterday at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Requiring only a point to seal their maiden appearance in the final tier of the Nations League, Guyana stormed to victory, as the contest was essentially over at the end of the first half, following a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Guyana’s starting XI comprised Quillan Roberts, Jonathan Grant, Jalen Jones, Colin Nelson, Curtez Kellman, Liam Gordon, Omari Glasgow, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Daniel Wilson and Kelsey Benjamin.
their place in League A
The dominance of the Golden Jaguars was evident from the start, as they eventually recorded 19 shots to Antigua and Barbuda’s six, whilst completing 390 passes after attempting 435 to accumulate 53 % possession of the ball. Antigua and Barbuda 312 passes from 387.
The dynamic Benjamin commenced the rout in the seventh minute, stabbing past the advancing goalkeeper from inside the penalty box, after latching onto a flat left-sided cross.
Glasgow then got into the scoring act in the 36th minute, slotting into the back of the net from inside the 18 yard area, after receiving a flat cross from the right side.
Moriah-Welsh then recorded a brilliant individual effort in the 45th minute to complete the first half demolition, uncorking a lobbed, right-footed shot from just behind the halfway-line following a free-kick, which sailed over the goalkeeper and settled into the back of the net, after striking the woodwork.
The carnage continued in the second half, as debutante Osaze De Rosario scored in the 67th minute to make it 4-0, skipping past his marker while cutting in from the left side of the field, before slotting his effort into the lower right corner off the corresponding upright.
Fellow substitute Leo Lovell made his presence felt in the 90th minute, slamming a first time right footed effort into the back of the net from inside the right of the penalty area, after racing onto a flat cross from the left side of the field.
The score-line was then sealed in the 90th+3 minute, as Deon Moore scored, blasting his effort into the roof of the net from inside the centre of the 18 yard box, after latching onto a flicked-on pass from the right side of the area.
With the win, Guyana boasts a perfect 5-0 record to secure an unassailable lead atop the standings in Group D. The Guyanese defeated Antigua and Barbuda [5-1] in the previous meeting, the Bahamas [3-2], and Puerto Rico [3-1, 3-1].
Guyana is penciled to end their campaign against the Bahamas, after a previously slated fixture was cancelled twice [on November 18th and 19th] due to inclement weather. A date for the staging of the match is yet to be finalised.
