CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers: Bonaire come from behind to defeat Junior Jags 4-2
It was heartbreak time for Guyana’s National Under 17 boys, known as the Junior Golden Jaguars, in a CONCACAF Under-17 qualifier match played at the IMG Academy in Florida, USA, when Bonaire came from behind to hand them an upset 4-2 defeat.
The National U17 team prior to their departure from Guyana
It was also Guyana’s first game in pursuit of a spot in the CONCACAF 2023 Under-23 Championships.
With Duguain Samuels being the goal’s custodian and Shakem Welcome wearing the captain’s armband, Swade Edwards, Gerry Burnette, Seon Cato, Kvist Paul, Omar Sam, Noah Kissoon, Matrim Martin, Andre Nelson and Bryan Wharton made up the remainder of Guyana’s starting XI, who for most of the first half managed to hold off the Bonaire competition, and even broke the deadlock first.
Gerry Burnette of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) found the back of the net in the 38th, but at resumption of the second half, Guyana’s lead was nullified by the cardinal sin of an own goal scored in the 51st. And although a 52nd minute goal from Matrim Martin of the Slingerz FC quickly handed the Junior Jags the lead once again, that own goal opened the proverbial flood gates for Bonaire to flow.
First, Mervin Dhishmey made it a 2-2 game for Bonaire in the 58th, then Freadven Michiel handed his team the lead in the 70th. Despite Guyana’s best efforts, they could not find another goal; whereas, in the 88th, Rhiordan Piar hammered home the last goal of the game, and Bonaire went on to defeat Guyana by a margin of 4 goals to Guyana’s 2.
The Junior Jags will seek redemption on Thursday, when they compete in their second game of the tournament against Bahamas, beginning at 11am local time.
Guyana has been drawn in Group A of the CONCACAF Under-17 qualifiers with Bermuda, Bahamas, Bonaire, Saint Martin and the British Virgin Islands. The Junior Jags will oppose each group member once in the Qualifier tournament.
There are four groups in the Qualifying tournament, the winners of which will gain a spot in next year’s Under-17 Championships, scheduled for February 11th to 26th, 2023 in Guatemala City and Antigua Guatemala in Guatemala.
