Digicel Caribbean Championship Group B…‘Golden Jaguars’ roar to group win after draw with Suriname

Aug 11, 2008 Sports

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The atmosphere at the Providence Stadium was one of a semi Mashramani at the sound of Referee Mark Forde’s whistle since it signaled the end of the match and Guyana’s advancement to the second round of the Digicel Caribbean Championship.

Thanks to a 91st minute goal by Dwight Peters, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ drew their grinding match up with old nemesis Suriname who had taken the lead in the first half via a splendid free kick Vangellino Sastronedjo.

The match was a bruising affair with both teams conscious that a win would have put them through to the next round as the group winner.   All the Guyanese needed was a draw and that they got and one could have felt the ease of tension in the stadium as the home fans were all but lost in the dying moments of the match.

The equalizer came as a result of a goal mouth scrimmage from the 11th corner kick of the match. Peters finally kicked the ball past Ronny Aloema on about the 3rd attempt by the Jaguars who were very desperate for a goal.

Not only did the players, Technical and Management Staff enjoy the goal but His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony who were on hand to witness the action.

Suriname took the lead after 22 minutes from a free kick on the right side of Guyana’s goal at the northern end of the ground. Goalkeeper Richard Reynolds tried desperately to parry the ball away at full stretch flying to his right but was not able to do so. It was a well executed free kick by Sastronedjo.

Both teams took the fight to each other as they tried to wrest the initiative and ultimately the game.  Many chances were created both ways but did not hit the final target, the back of the nets.

While Guyana enjoyed good ball possession yet again, the finishing was also again a cause for concern, a situation which Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz did not disagree with but said that work would have to be done at the club level to help ensure that improvement is had in this area.

Guyana also had a chance to equalize from a free kick in about the 35th minute but when Nigel Codrington took the kick which ended up in the nets, referee Forde had already blown his whistle for an infringement and the kick had to be retaken but ended up in the wall.

After the break, the Jaguars went after their prey in menacing fashion but the Surinamese were equal to the task, not allowing the attackers much space to achieve their objective of equalizing.

But the Guyanese never gave up. The animated crowd started to urge their team on and they responded accordingly. Shawn Bishop, Anthony Abrams and Devon Millington were introduced to the game in the last 25 minutes at various intervals and added some extra punch up front which resulted in more pressure on the visitors.

The end result was the equaliser which sent the fans into wild celebrations. 
Guyana and Suriname ended the group with one victory and a draw but the Guyanese had a better result against the 3rd team in the group, Dominica, 3-0 to Suriname’s 3-1.

President Jagdeo and Minister Anthony along with Guyana Football Federation President Colin Klass met both teams after the match.

The DCC will continue with group C action from August 25 to September 1 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands.

The host country will battle Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Martin for a place in the next group.
Meanwhile, Technical Director of the Jaguars Jamaal Shabazz at the post match press briefing said he was happy that the team advanced to the next round.  He noted that it was a tough contest, opining that Suriname played like gladiators.

He gave full credit to the opponents.  Shabazz disclosed that the Guyana team started well pressing in attack, but slowed a bit when Suriname countered and scored to go ahead.

However, they fought until they were able to equalise in the dying stages.  Both the Technical Director and Captain Charles Pollard, who indicated that this was his last game for Guyana on home soil, said that the younger players have to be exposed so they can take the mantle to carry Guyana to the future.

Suriname coach Jaliens Kenneth took his hat off to the Guyana team, which he noted had a lot of young players, stating that they fought well to advance.  He noted that while they wanted to win, they were looking at this encounter as preparation for their World Cup qualifying campaign.

All focus now for Guyana is the second round fixed for Trinidad and Shabazz disclosed that with the league there closed to accommodate the Digicel Championship; he will have the opportunity to work with his charges uninhibited.    He said they will focus on several deficiencies noticed in this leg as they look forward to a much better second round.

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