Guyana’s senior men’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars, have sunk deeper into the proverbial mire in Group A of League A in the CONCACAF Nations League, following another 3-1 defeat on home soil, this time at the hands of Guatemala.
Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz opted for a number of changes in his starting XI, which included handing the captain’s armband to Colin Nelson. Quillian Roberts manned the nets, while Leo Lovell, Terrence Vancooten, Jalen Jones, Nathan Moriah- Welsh, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Liam Gordon, Ryan Hackett, Isaiah Jones and Omari Glasgow comprised the remainder of the starting XI.
It was déjà vu for the Golden Jaguars at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, with an intense start that just couldn’t materialize in good finishing and goals.
Stephen Duke-McKenna netted Guyana’s lone goal of the contest (Newsroom Photo)
Guatemala, however, were the first to find the back of the net, as Oscar Santis benefitted from a brief build-up in the box to tap the ball into the left corner in the 17th minute. Then, in the 31st, a similar build-up from the Guyanese saw Stephen Duke-Mckenna receiving the assist from Isiah Jones to curl the ball into the right top corner of the goal. Hunting the lead, the Golden Jaguars assaulted the Guatemalan goal, but nothing would stick, and the half finished 1-1.
In the second session, the Guatemalans appeared well- adjusted to the Guyanese game plan, and, as such, were able to compose their defense while finding two easy goals.
First Oscar Castellanos was able to escape the reach of Roberts in the 61st, while a defensive error from the home side saw Guatemala reclaiming possession in the 68th as Santis went on to complete his double off the opportunity.
Following the match, Duke- McKenna expressed his disappointment with the result, revealing the need for a big win against Suriname to stay in League A.
Duke-Mckenna said about the clash, “Obviously disappointed, because I thought we dominated the game a lot; but obviously we need to be more, like ruthless in the box and finish our chances.
“It makes it very tough for us, because goal difference has killed us as well. So, we need to put on a big performance next game,” the midfielder added about next Tuesday’s Suriname clash.
Quizzed about their performance in League A, McKenna admitted that the Golden Jaguars have what it takes, albeit there is need to tighten up some areas.
“I think we’re more than enough for competitiveness. I think we’ve got more than enough. I just think it’s the fine margins that we need to tighten up on. Like I said, being ruthless in the box and finishing our chances, cause we dominated,” Duke-McKenna explained.
The Golden Jaguars will take on Suriname in their next game, on Tuesday October 15 from 20:00hrs in the neighbouring nation.
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