Junior Jags advance to CFU Challenge semis

Guyana’s National Under-14 Boys’ Football team will move on to the Tier II semifinal round in the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Under-14 Challenge Series, on the back of a gritty 1-0 victory over the Bahamas on Wednesday morning.
There was a lot at stake between the two teams at Cap Cana Sports City, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on Wednesday as they happened to be the top teams in Group C; tied on six points from 2 games. Just a draw would have been good enough to ensure Guyana punched their ticket to the semifinal round since the Junior Jaguars had the better goal difference while the Bahamas needed an outright win to advance.

Several changes to the starting XI saw Captain Dylan Kendall, goalkeeper Royston Winter, Daniel Chesney, Gilbert Frank, Cavon Peters, Fabio Kowlessar, Aaron Vasconcellos, Isaac Taylor, Adiel Hamilton, Nash Moe and Asher McIntyre taking first strike on the pitch.
Shots went a begging at both ends as the Bahamas challenged Guyana’s Junior Jaguars but a few classy saves from Winter, including that of a penalty opportunity for Bahamas in the 50th minute, kept Guyana in the game and ensured the scores remained deadlocked well into the second half.
Guyana began probing further, as shots which came off the boots of Vasconcellos and Malik Sobers went wide and was saved by the keeper, respectively. Then, early in the 65th, Fabio Kowlessar dribbled past the defenders sending a right- footed shot from the top of the box which beat the keeper but connected with the right- post to ricochet out. Though it was a missed opportunity, it was a sign of things to come from the Junior Jaguars.
Eventually, as Guyana intensified their press in the final third, Dane Vancooten capitalized on a bad pass from the Bahamian keeper, sending the ball to Wayshawn Forde who turned quickly to send the right- footed shot at the near post. Ricocheting of the cross bar, the ball dropped in for Guyana’s game- winner in the 65th minute.
By virtue of the win, Guyana has topped Group C in Tier II with three wins in as many games and a perfect 9 points. The Junior Jaguars will move on to the semifinal round on Friday, August 21, with both semis in Tier II scheduled for 09:30hrs local time.