A thriller of a game it was at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Tuesday night as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago played to a riveting 1-1 draw in the Courts Caribbean Classic.
Neil Danns scored for Guyana
Playing the series decider, Guyana opted for a starting XI of goalkeeper Akel Clarke, Leo Lovell, Jeremy Garrett, Nathan Moriah- Welsh, Samuel Cox, Omari Glasgow, Neil Danns, Torell Ondaan, Quincy Adams, Trayon Bobb and Captain Daniel Wilson.
By the looks of Guyana’s composure, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz indeed kept his promise made to T&T media, to utilise pressing tactics. By this measure, Guyana enjoyed much possession and a number of near misses in the first half.
Outstanding from Guyana’s plethora of chances was a good-looking shot off the boots of Danns that went awry across the face of the goal. Expectedly, Trinidad had their fair share of opportunities and almost had the Golden Jaguars reeling when Ryan Telfer approached the goal purposefully with ball in tow; his left foot shot, however, strayed outside the area, to Guyana’s delight.
As Guyana pressured their twin-island counterparts in the attacking area, they also sought to dominate the area in front of their goal, as the defence kept things tight and tidy. Garrett and Adams were particularly stellar in the defence for Guyana.
Even though, the Golden Jaguars failed to net a goal in the first segment, they were up-to-par enough to ensure the same fate for the Soca Warriors, resulting in a deadlock at the half.
Trinidad and Tobago began the second half with renewed vigour, but it was clouded by questionable and misdirected passes by the boys in red.
Clarke, who seemed to be working overtime all night, intercepted a sure chance by the Trinis early in the half, but their extended passing in front of the goal also played to his benefit.
Bobb, who looked spritely on the wings, was in the process of another rocket-fast run when Jess Williams brought him down inside the box. As such, Guyana were awarded a penalty which was taken by Danns.
At the sound of the whistle, Trinidad’s Marvin Phillip instantaneously dived left, but it was the wrong call as the penalty specialist that Danns is opted for a soft touch into the right corner for the ice-breaker goal.
In the 80th minute, Garrett played hero once again for Guyana as he fended off another Trinidadian pursuit in front of the goal. John-Paul Rochford had the defence reeling as he picked up a loose ball and cause Clarke to lose his footing in front of the goal in the process. However, Garrett recovered quickly to stop Rochford in his tracks.
As the minutes expired, Trinidad and Tobago seemed especially determined to equalise as Clarke was made to execute two brilliant saves all in the same minute. The first was a penalty, taken by Levi Garcia, in which Clarke dived right, pushing the ball across and out of danger. Resulting in a set piece opportunity, Clarke again held off the Trinidadian striker to keep the score at 1-0.
However, that score was short-lived, as Garcia utilised the added time well, to sneak in the equaliser for Trinidad and Tobago.
Met with a massive eruption of cheers from the local crowd, Guyana had not enough time to seek out a winning goal.
The 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana meant that the twin-island republic would win the Courts Caribbean Classic, having scored more goals in the tri-nation tournament.
