The Guyana National U17 team kicked off their Concacaf Men’s U17 Qualifiers campaign with a resilient 1-1 draw against regional rivals Trinidad and Tobago at the Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica last night.
Joshua Morris gave Guyana the lead in the 32nd minute after capitalizing on a defensive blunder from the Trinidadian goalkeeper. Following a corner kick, the shot-stopper rushed out in an attempt to clear the ball but failed to do so effectively, allowing Morris to pounce on the loose ball and fire it into the back of the net.
Trinidad and Tobago responded in the second half, leveling the score in the 54th minute through Philip Nelson.
The goal stemmed from a swift counter-attack, with a pass into the box mishandled by the Guyanese defence. Nelson was quick to react, slotting the ball home to secure a point for his side.
Guyana sits in Group B alongside Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the British Virgin Islands. The Junior Jags will look to build on this performance when they face Saint Maarten on Tuesday (February 11). Their toughest challenge comes against host nation Costa Rica on February 13, before wrapping up the group stage against the British Virgin Islands on February 16.
A place in the U17 World Cup is on the line, and Guyana will be aiming to make their mark in the upcoming fixtures.
