Honduras crush Junior Jags’ WC hopes in 4-2 affair

What began as a hopeful campaign for Guyana’s national Under-17 boys’ team, quickly became a case of broken dreams on Sunday night as the local boys relinquished an early lead, resulting in a 4-2 loss to group favourites Honduras in the CONCACAF U17 World Cup Qualifiers.
Competing for a chance to secure a spot at the FIFA U17 World Cup, Guyana began the all-important clash with a starting XI that comprising Captain Tamer Unver, goalkeeper Nyall Kendall, Joshua Morris, Maximus Cato, Malachi Patrick, Nyron Barrow, Jaden Tasher, Jeremiah Welcome, Mark Glasgow, Micaiah De Freitas, and Matthew Stewart.

After Kendall was forced into a few early saves, the hosts, Honduras, got ahead first in the 18th minute at the Estadio Francisco Morazán. Milton Moya took advantage of a lapse in the Guyanese defence, sending a right-footed rocket from outside the box into the top left corner of the goal, escaping the grasp of a diving Kendall.
However, the Junior Jags burst into celebrations minutes later when Barrow sent a cross into the box, meeting Stewart smack in front of the goal. Stewart found the opposing keeper off his line, lobbing the ball over his head and into the net for the equaliser in the 23rd minute.
The celebrations for the boys in yellow continued when Barrow and Stewart team up for Guyana’s second strike in the 32nd minute. Barrow’s thread through the defence allowed Stewart a breakaway run and when met by the advancing Honduran keeper, the Guyanese striker held on to possession, tapping the ball in to hand Guyana a 2-1 lead.

But the celebrations were short-lived as a volley off the boots of Eduardo Romero in the 38th minute, sneaked past Kendall into the right corner of the goal.
With a 2-2 score at the half, it was still anyone’s game with World Cup qualification on the line. Two crucial substitutions for Honduras at the break brought not only fresh legs but perspective goal scorers, to bother the Guyanese defence continuously.
It was Honduras’ Denzel Arzu that broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, heading a cross into the bottom right corner to give the home team the lead once again. Josue Ortega later rewarded his coach for his halftime substitution, with a simple tap in for Honduras’ fourth in the 79th minute.
Guyana will have to await the result of the final Group H clash between Honduras and Bermuda on Thursday to know their fate.