The National Beach Soccer Team made history on Wednesday evening, February 22, with a 4-1 win over Belize in its third game at the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in the Bahamas.
Deshawn Joseph on the attack against Belize
The team, who were already breaking new ground for Guyanese men’s football with their debut in a CONCACAF finals tournament, lost their opening two matches to hosts the Bahamas (1-4) and Jamaica (3-6).
But, in a sign of good things to come for the future, the squad dug deep and bounced back in its final group match. Deshawn Joseph netted twice, 4′ and 29′; Jahshawn Moore in the 24′ and Jamal Haynes in the 25′. Haynes also scored an own goal in the 5′ to seal a comfortable win.
Guyana finished third in Group A on three points, below the Bahamas and Jamaica who will now progress to the knockout, quarter-final rounds. Guyana will now take part in the placement rounds, which decide the final standings between 9 and 16.
The landmark win in Nassau could see Guyana enter beach soccer’s world rankings for the first time. Belize is ranked 89th out of 112, Jamaica stands at 70, with the Bahamas at 56.
In February 2016, Guyana’s Women’s National Team secured a memorable 2-1 win against Guatemala in the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship – the nation’s first win at senior level in a CONCACAF finals tournament.
