Guyana hangs on for NY soccer playoff spot

By Orin Davidson
Haiti snapped Jamaica’s winning streak while Guyana continues to cling on for playoff contention in the New York Digicel football competition currently in progress in Brooklyn.

Points leaders Jamaica were held to 2-2 draw by winless Haiti last Sunday in a come from behind performance by the outsiders in an unexpected result.

Guyana, meanwhile earned their first full points in their last game after Dominican Republic was defaulted for failing to show up.  Officials said the DR team members stayed away to watch the FIFA World Cup final on TV between Spain and Portugal, two Sundays ago.

So Guyana earned  its first three points for the competition to stand on four  and will have to win their final game against Colombia and hope other  game results go in their favor in Group A, to book a place in the last four. The top two teams from each group will advance.

Jamaica lead the group with 10 points, with Haiti second on five and Guyana fourth , St Lucia follow with three, but with one game in hand while Colombia are last without any points, having not showed up for any of their games so far. But a tournament official said they will finally make their debut in their final fixture against Guyana.  Guyana has two losses, to Jamaica and St Lucia and drew with Haiti.

Jamaica’s draw with Haiti was preceded by wins for Trinidad and St Kitts over Antigua and Barbados respectively.

A sensational last minute free kick by James Martino secured the equalizing goal for Haiti after Jamaica led 2-1 at half time.

Jermaine Hue   and Daniel Shock had scored for Jamaica while Martino netted his first of two goals in the first period.

A brace from Sharad Sullivan and a solitary item from Kornell Stewart gave Trinidad a 3-0 win while

Jolston Waitley scored the lone goal in a 1-0 upset triumph for St Kitts over Barbados.