CONCACAF Nations League
Guyana’s maiden campaign and sojourn in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League came to a conclusion as they suffered an embarrassing 1-5 loss to traditional rival Suriname last night at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, which sealed their relegation to League B.
Guyana’s starting XI comprised: Quillan Roberts (GK), Leo Lovell, Jalen Jones, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Nathan Ferguson, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Omari Glasgow, Liam Gordon, Curtez Kellman, Isaiah Jones, and Reiss Greenidge.
The Golden Jaguars never seemed capable of securing the win that was required to keep their hopes alive of remaining in the premier division of the Nations League.
Three first-half goals effectively sealed the unwanted outcome, which was the largest ever defeat incurred by the Guyanese against Suriname, eclipsing the 4-0 drubbing on May 31st, 1992. It was also the fourth consecutive loss against the same opposition, a record which dates back to February 2016.
Guyana, who qualified for League A with a perfect 5-0 record, will now make their return to the second division (League B) following a tally of three losses and a draw to finish with a solitary point in the season.
Suriname commenced the rout in the third minute via Sheraldo Becker, who slammed his effort into the roof of the net from inside the right of the penalty area after latching onto a pass from the left side.
Becker then doubled his team’s advantage in the 10th minute. It was a carbon copy finish of the first conversion, as the Real Sociedad attacker lashed his effort into the roof of the net after an initial strike from the left side of the penalty area was parried by the goalkeeper into his onrushing path.
Jones would reduce the deficit for the Golden Jaguars in the 13th minute, bundling the ball over the line from inside the six-yard box after his initial attempt following a cross into the box was parried into his path by the goalkeeper.
The aforesaid conversion provided only a brief respite, as Virgil Misidjan restored the host nation’s two-goal advantage in the 33rd minute with a shot into the left corner from the right side of the box after his initial strike was parried back into his path by the goalkeeper. Upon the resumption, Denzel Jubitana extended the score to 4-1 in the 51st minute, slotting home unchallenged into the back of the net after racing onto a flat left sided cross inside the right of the penalty area.
The eventual result was sealed in the 69th minute, as Ridgeciano Haps scored under fortuitous circumstances as his strike from the left side of the penalty area was pushed into the right corner by the diving custodian.
