CONCACAF U20 Championships: Junior Jags draw 2-2 with El Salvador
Guyana’s Under-20 national football team, commonly referred to as the Junior Jaguars, saw a much- improved performance on Sunday morning in the ongoing CONCACAF U20 Qualifiers, with a draw against El Salvador.
Playing at the Antigua and Barbuda Technical Centre, the Guyanese starting XI read: Captain Solomon Austin, Goalkeeper Emmanuel Lewis, Gerry Burnette, Tyrel Stephen, Tyler Lyle, Kymani Sealey, Matrim Martin, Brandon Khedoo, Ezekial Rowland, Kyle Reid, and Nathaniel Pydana.
The Junior Jags earned their first point on Sunday after a draw with El Salvador
The Junior Jaguars took the lead first as Pydana found the back of the net in the 10th minute. However, El Salvador’s Kiano Casamalhuapa pulled one back in the 22nd minute and the score would remain locked 1-all until the second half.
In the second segment, El Salvador took the lead for the first time in the encounter as Wilber Diaz’s shot escaped the grasp of Guyanese keeper Lewis in the 62nd minute.
Nathaniel Pydana netted a brace in the draw
Just when it looked like Guyana would suffer another defeat in the tournament, a penalty opportunity went the way of the Junior Jags. Taking the opportunity and executing it perfectly was Pydana, as he levelled the scores in the 83rd minute.
Time would expire with the scores locked 2-2, resulting in the teams having to share points.
Guyana will come up against Suriname next on Tuesday, February 27 in what will be a must- win game for the Junior Jags. That match will kick off at 10:30h, local time.
Guyana are in Group B of the Championship Qualifiers alongside El Salvador, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, and Turks and Caicos Islands, with the winner of the group advancing to the championships, which will be contested later this year.
