Guyana defeats T&T 2-1 in world cup qualifier

-creates history by getting this far

Goals from English-based mid-fielder and defender Ricky Shakes and Leon Cort propelled the Golden Jaguars to a historic 2-1 victory over the Soca Warriors, in the penultimate Group B, 2014 World Cup Qualifier at the Providence Stadium last evening.

Ricky Shakes
Ricky Shakes

This victory means the national football side has progressed to the third round of the CONCACAF world cup qualifiers for the first time in its history. In this third round next year from June 8th – October 16th, Guyana will be in Group B where its opponents will be Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Trinidad keeper Marvin Phillips about to be beaten by Ricky Shakes for Guyana’s first goal. (Orlando Charles Photo)
Trinidad keeper Marvin Phillips about to be beaten by Ricky Shakes for Guyana’s first goal. (Orlando Charles Photo)

In front of a jam-packed Stadium decked out in a kaleidoscope of bright yellow, Guyana and Trinidad played formations that seemed to be 4-4-1-1 and 4-3-3 respectively. Both began playing aggressive football within the first quarter of an hour.

However it was the Golden Jaguars that drew first blood. An enterprising run down the right-flank by Ricky Shakes resulted in a corner kick, which led to a mad scramble by the Soca Warriors defenders to clear the ball. They only managed to hit it right back into the path of Shakes, who blasted home a thundering volley past Trinidad goal-keeper Marvin Phillips in the 10th minute.

That thumping goal noticeably left the boys from the `Twin Island Republic’ shell-shocked and their line-up of much celebrated players  was never able find their rhythm for the remainder of the half, as the home side with help from the vociferous home crowd playing the role of “12th man” to perfection, began to dominate proceedings.

In the 25th minute Dwain Jacobs playing on left-mark, embarrassed Trinidad right-back Carlos Edwards with a combination of excellent close control skill and pace, and sent a sharp cross into Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson in the box, who hit a timid shot to the keeper.

Play at this stage was frenetic for the remainder of the half. Chan was to be guilty of squandering two other very good chances to put Guyana further ahead, before Guyana’s goal-keeper Ronson Williams made sure the home side went into the interval with a 1-0 lead, when he saved a stinging free-kick from Trinidad captain and star striker Kenwyne Jones in the 44th minute.

After a pacy first half, the momentum of the game in the first 20 minutes of the second decreased considerably, but the home side was still the one playing better football, as it reduced the Soca Warriors into relying on corners and free-kicks for their goal-scoring opportunities, the majority of which they squandered.

Carl Cort had a tremendous opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 70th minute, when another brilliant left-wing run from Jacobs found Cort in front of a open goal and he poked a timid shot to keeper, as the 15,000 fans moaned in disapproval.

But in the 81st minute his brother Leon was to make up for the error and scored a goal that would make him a national hero. A corner from left-back Walter Moore was cleared by the Trinidad fence, the ball then fell into the path of Shakes who had an outstanding game and his cross was met by Leon who eased his shot into the net sending the National Stadium into pandemonium.

Kenwyne Jones via the last kick of the game in the 92nd minute pulled back a consolation goal, with a free-kick, just outside the 18-yard box. But it was too late, as Surinamese referee Enrico Wijngaarde blew the final whistle for the Golden Jaguars players to begin celebrating the proudest night in the nation’s football history.