Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
Youthful Guyana hold Martinique to 2-2 draw
St. Luces, Martinique – Second half goals by Captain Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and winger
Anthony Abrams
Dwight Peters earned a young ‘Golden Jaguars’ outfit a hard fought 2-2 draw against Martinique, at the Stade George’s on Wednesday evening when the two countries clashed in a friendly match as the Guyanese team continues preparations for the next round of FIFA World Cup, qualifying.
“It would have been crazy after fighting so well to come away with a loss, stated a relieved Jamaal Shabazz, Head Coach of the Guyana National Team.
“The game can best be described as a tale of two halves, he added.” Defensively we were a disaster in the first half an accident waiting to happen. But in the second half the guys did very well, displayed great character and we controlled the game, stated Shabazz.
Martinique, coming off back to back victories against Antigua and Barbuda {also in the next stage of WCQ} and Guadeloupe, had the ‘Golden Jaguars’ on the back foot from the whistle, forcing goalkeeper Richard Reynolds to bring off some good saves to keep his team in the game.
However loose defending saw Martinique go ahead in the 23rd minute. Dwight Peters came close to scoring 10 minutes later, but after out running down the Martinique defense he saw his deftly taken lob go just outside the post.
On the stroke of halftime, Anthony Abrams missed a sitter. He dribbled past the goalkeeper and from the left side of the six-yard box, miss-kicked the ball and saw his repeat effort cleared off the line.
The teams went into the interval with Martinique leading 1-0 much to the joy of the home fans.
Commenting on his team’s second half approach Shabazz stated: “We focused on applying more pressure higher up the field in the second half and urged the guys to fight back as soon as the ball was lost. This gave us more possession and with the way we dominated the game we should have scored at least twice, to put us in a comfortable position.”
It was Abrams turning hero in the 61st minute slotting home after being put through by Konata Manning in midfield. So far in 2012 during these Caribbean tours, Abrams has maintained solid goal-scoring form having scored against Grenada, Tobago and French Guiana.
With the score leveled (1-1), Mannings saw his free kick just skim the post, while teenagers Daniel Wilson and Trayon Bobb came close to scoring with Guyana running rings around the Martiniquan defense.
Dwight Peters
With the home team on the back foot and the fourth official indicating that four minutes of added on time was decided, the Frenchmen struck against the run of play to retake the advantage, 2-1.
But staring down the barrel of defeat the ‘Golden Jaguars’ fought to the end; Dwight Peters played a combination move with midfielder Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant and then wiggled his way past three (3) defenders to score a spectacular equalizer in the final minute of added on time to level the score at two.
“I think we deserved to come away with a result and I am satisfied that the guys gave a good hard fought performance. Our fitness level is improving thanks to the work of the local staff and the fact that guys are playing in the Super League, Shabazz elaborated further.
“We look to the game against Guadeloupe today with a view of bringing in some younger lads into the firing line again, this is what the doctor has ordered”, he added.
Guyana face host Guadeloupe tonight at 20:00hrs. Guadeloupe has qualified for the last two Gold Cup tournaments finishing runners up to Jamaica in the last Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament.
Guyana Team vs Martinique: Anthony Abrams (Captain), Richard Reynolds, Devor Dennis, Quincy Madramootoo, Colin Nelson, Julien Edwards, Dwight Peters, Konata Manning, Kester Jacobs, Trayon Bobb, Daniel Wilson.
Substitute: Anthony Benfield for Dennis (halftime), Eon Alleyne for Abrams (75th), Travis Grant for Konata Mannings (80th), Kris Camacho for Trayon Bobb (82nd), Pernell Schultz for Daniel Wilson (83rd), Brion Baker for Kester Jacobs (85th).
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