Guyana’s pursuit of regional glory last evening began on a positive note as the team humbled lowly rated Anguilla 7-0 in their Scotiabank Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup qualifying opener at the National Stadium in Providence.
From the kickoff the gap in quality between the teams was apparent as Guyana simply toyed with the visitors to seal their second win of the year following their earlier 2-0 win over Suriname.
The previous meeting of the nations in 1998 ending 14-0 in favour of Guyana but last evening’s margin of victory was not that huge.
Dwight Peters commenced the rout in the 11th minute after head coach Jamaal Shabazz opted for a starting XI consisting of Anthony Whyte, Quincy Adams, Samuel Cox, Kester Jacobs, Chris Nurse, Tichard Joseph, Eon Alleyne, Vurlon Mills, Gregory Richardson and Neil Danns.
Although the attendance was disappointing, the Alpha United winger brought the small crowd to its feet as he slotted past the goalkeeper from inside the box, after collecting a cross from Mills.
It took the Golden Jaguars a mere three minutes to add to their tally as Nurse directed a powerful header past ‘keeper Kasem Thompson, after rising to meet a right side corner kick from Cox.
Peters continued the goal rush in the 30th minute, sealing his second in similar fashion to his first with a finish into the lower left corner, after receiving a perfectly placed Eon Alleyne cross from left side within the centre of the box.
The visitors seemed nothing more than participants in the contest as they hardly offered an attacking threat, conceding upwards of 80 percent of the ball.
And with the possession, the goals continued to be found as the English import Danns etched his name on the scorer’s sheet with a powerful strike from outside of the box into the right corner.
The score line predictably ballooned to 5-0 as Richardson made his presence felt on the stroke of half time. Not one to be outdone, the veteran hitman skipped past a defender while cutting in from the left side into the area, before firing a right foot effort into the lower right corner.
The nature of the contest continued in the second half as Mills scored in the 48th minute, volleying into the roof of the net after latching onto a botched headed clearance within the centre of the box.
Substitute Marcel Barrington sealed the lopsided victory in the 65th minute, bundling the ball into the right corner after an initial 26 yard strike from fellow substitute Devon Millington was spilt into his onrushing path by the goalkeeper.
Due to the win, the hosts move onto three points while Anguilla remain pointless. The Golden Jaguars will now conclude their group campaign on March 29th away to Puerto Rico, needing only a draw to secure their berth in the next round.
The Golden Jaguars best showing in the championship was in the 2007 edition, when they lost out on a semi-final berth and a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup due to goal difference.
In their most recent outing in 2014, Guyana made a first round exit, losing twice and securing one draw in their matches with an inexperienced side featuring predominantly local players who were making their debuts.
Round two of the event is set to commence in May, with the third round scheduled to begin in October. The 5th Place playoff will take place in the month of November while the grand finale will occur in May of 2017. The top four teams during the conclusion of the event will qualify to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Current Points Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts
Guyana 1. 0. 0. 7. 0. +7. 3
Anguilla 1. 0. 1. 0. 0. 7. -7. 0
Puerto Rico
