Anthony `Awo’ Abrams and Konata Manning netted one goal each to lead the Golden Jaguars to a brilliant come-from-behind victory against Cuba, the Caribbean’s number-one ranked football team on Friday night in the first of the five international friendly matches sponsored by Digicel at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden.
The setting was much different from the last time these two teams met and instead of the conditions at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad, the Cubans were forced to adjust to the soggy and rained-out- rained Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Though the conditions were not too favourable, the foreigners struck gold when striker Yordonis Castro kicked one past Jaguars’ goal-keeper Richard Reynolds in the sixth minute to take an early 1-0 advantage.
The Cuban first goal surpised and silenced everyone at the half-filled Mackenzie Sports Club ground as it was only the Cuban’s second attack in Jaguars’ territory.
The Golden Jaguars were not discouraged and persistently stuck to the attack which had given them many attempts at goal which they had not managed convert.
The Cuban defence was stifling within the 18-yard box and with momentum on their side from the 1-0 lead, they showed no urgency in retrieving out-of-touch balls which they were forced to recover themselves in the absence of ball boys in this international match-up.
Guyana finally got a break in the 33rd minute when captain (in absence of Charles`Lily’ Pollard) Collie Hercules, give a superb pass to Abrams and Abrams made no mistake in turning the pass into the equalizing goal.
After the game Abrams told Stabroek sport that his goal came as a result of the impeccable communications system that he has developed with the acting captain Hercules.
In the 45th minute, the Jaguars struck again when Manning scored on a free kick from just outside the penalty box to stun the Cuban ‘keeper who remained motionless.
After the Jaguars claimed the 2-1 advantage at halftime, the defence returned and continued to stifle Cuba who only managed to take four shots at goal in the entire match.
In the second half, the Jaguars coaching staff made some changes to expose the bench players.
Late in the game one of the overseas based players, midfielder Chris Bourne, checked into to the game and tried to propel the Jaguars with his deceiving crosses which nearly gave his team a two-goal advantage on a few occasions.
Coach of the Golden Jaguars team, Wayne Dover, said that the team had a variety of players that can whip the ball from any angle of the field and said that Bourne was one of those players who executed on those crosses with great efficiency.
Dover added that he was impressed with the indecisiveness that Bourne seemed to impose on the Cuban ‘keeper every time he launched one of his crosses and said that it was unfortunate that at least one of his attempts were not successful.
Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation, Jamaal Shabazz, said that he saw determined play from both teams and added that the England-based players, showed good character in adapting to the conditions under which the game was played.
“I had a lot of concerns trailing early in the game as Cuba is a very strong team and the match could have gone any way under these conditions. However, I give all credit to our players for sticking to the task and winning here at home.”
Shabazz said he hoped that there was sunny weather in Georgetown so that the second of the two Cuba games today at the GCC Ground Bourda, would be played under better conditions.
