Guyana’s Golden Jaguars suffered their second four goal defeat of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Group D action, losing 4-2 to Panama at the First Energy NFL Football Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday evening.
The good news from the night is that Neil Danns will go down in history as Guyana’s first ever Gold Cup scorer thanks to his opening penalty.
The bad news however is that Guyana has legitimate reasons to feel that the controversial refereeing decision that led to Panama’s third goal and the general calls made during the match had a major influence of how the game played out. With the United States smashing Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 in their overhyped revenge match for the Soca Warriors stopping them from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the final match between Guyana the Warriors is now a straight Caribbean pride match to avoid finishing bottom of the Group.
Guyana can look back at the first half with great encouragement as they started it well and ended by having a superior 52% to 48% possession advantaged over the Central Americans.
The First major chance occurred in the fifth minute, as left-back Liam Gordon delivered a left frank cross that Matthew Briggs came close to converting.
Emery Welshman whose parent MLS club FC Cincinnati that is also based in Ohio, got an early shot off in this game after spending much of the opener versus the Americans chasing shadows. However, Panama keeper Lis Meija did a good job to deny him.
Secondly in the 14th minute, the Canadian born duo of right back Jordan Dover and Welshman almost linked up perfectly to score. But Dover’s cross down the right flank was cleared by the Panama’s defense with Welshman lurking, Panama though would get lucky and would score the opening goal due to a Guyana defensive error. Lack of communication between Goal-keeper Akel Clarke and Briggs in tracking Panama’s runner Abdiel Arroyo and he capitalized to score.
Guyana however valiantly kept trying to pass and play on the front foot. Ondaan was brought down in the box and Neil Danns stepped and scored the first goal in CONCACAF Gold Cup history for the Golden Jaguars.
This lead would not last up until half-time when Terrence Vancooten attempting to clear the ball from a Panama right-wing cross, mistakenly scored an own-goal.
Pandemonium would hit 51st minute with the penalty kick drama. Replays suggested that Clarke’s feet was over white goal line when he made the first save, but the referee called for to be retaken and they scored to the ultimate frustration of all the players and staff.
Around the globe his was the second notable referee decision on the goal-keepers and their foot position for penalties in the past week. Scotland had similar heartbreak versus Argentina in France for their 2019 Women’s World Cup fixture which like Guyana led to their tournament elimination.
Guyana XI (4-3-3): Akel Clarke; Jordan Dover, Terrence Vancooten, Matthew Briggs; Elliot Bonds (Stephen Duke-McKenna 55), Neil Danns, Sam Cox (Captain), Terell Ondaan (Keanu Marsh-Brown 67), Callum Harriot (Anthony Jeffrey 67), Emery Welshman
Panama XI: Luis Meija, Harold Cummings, Fidel Escobar, Roman Torres, Edgar Barcenas, Armando Cooper, Eric Davis, Rolando Blackburn, Abdiel Arroyo, Michael Murillo.
