FIFA Series 2024: Glasgow brace helps Guyana drub Cambodia 4-1

Guyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars wrapped up a productive outing in Saudi Arabia with a commanding 4-1 victory over Cambodia on Tuesday afternoon at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.
For Tuesday’s assignment, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz opted for three changes to his starting XI, which read: Captain Elliot Bonds, goal keeper Quillian Roberts, Jeremy Garrett, Jalen Jones, Curtez Kellman, Leo Lovell, Stephen Duke-Mckenna, Nathan Ferguson, Kadell Daniel and Omari Glasgow.

As if more proof was needed, Omari Glasgow displayed why he is currently the best young player in the CONCACAF region by breaking the ice between Guyana and Cambodia and going on to register a brace.
For 19 minutes, the Cambodians managed to keep the Golden Jaguars at bay, although the Jaguars heavily controlled possession. Then Kadell Daniel, in a spirited run forward, served up an excellent pass to the right corner of the goal, and Glasgow made a stunning leap over the defender to head the ball into the goal for Guyana’s first in the 20th.
Though there were more chances for Guyana in the remaining minutes, the first 45 minutes expired with the score still reading 1-0.
But it was not the best of starts for the Golden Jaguars when the second stanza resumed, and it showed in them conceding what would become Cambodia’s consolation goal.

In the 53rd, a slip-up in the midfield saw Cambodia winning possession and a promising ball being sent forward. Sieng Chanthea took on the task of outrunning the Guyanese defence, and when keeper Quillian Roberts opted to approach instead of hang back, Chanthea’s game-levelling shot was made easier.
The equalizer appeared to be a wake-up call for the Golden Jaguars, who became more effervescent at the resumption of play. Cambodia lost the equalizer as quickly as they found it when Chea Chandara pulled down Guyana’s Jalen Jones in the box as he was leaping to get a head to a corner kick. Glasgow took the penalty opportunity, and sent it into the opposite corner to the one that the Cambodian keeper had dived towards, thereby bringing up Guyana’s second in the 59th minute.
The Golden Jaguars had many other chances come their way: once when a shot from Glasgow ricocheted off the cross bar, and again when the cross bar deflected a shot from just inside the box around the 77th minute, when substitution Daniel Wilson took what looked like a sure goal; but those opportunities went abegging.
Nevertheless, the Golden Jaguars eventually scored their 3rd goal in the 80th minute, following a clever play from Lovell. A build up on the right outskirts of the 18-yard area resulted in the ball being served up to another substitute, Deon Moore, who immediately made the shot on goal. But when Moore’s shot was punched out by the keeper, Lovell sneaked past the waiting defender and tapped the ball into the back of the net.
In the 90th+1 minute, Ryan Khedoo added the cherry on top for Guyana with the fourth goal. An excellent service from Bonds met Khedoo perfectly positioned inside the box, and the forward needing only to ‘take and shoot’.
Guyana ended their inaugural FIFA Series Campaign with a win over Cambodia and a 1-0 loss to Cabo Verde on Thursday last. (Jemima Holmes)