Junior Jaguars suffer disappointing 5-0 loss to Nicaragua

The run of Guyana’s under-20 men’s football team, the Junior Jags, in the CONCACAF Qualifiers came to a disappointing end on Wednesday night when they lost to Nicaragua 5-0.

With Captain Omari Glasgow, Ronaldo Blair, Sealon Sue, Jerome Harrigan, Devon Padmore, Brandon Solomon, Alex Davidson, Kehance Scott, Darron Niles, Yohance Douglas and Ravi Coates getting the nod from Coach Wayne Dover for the starting XI, Guyana looked good in their opening minutes, bringing a certain intensity to their opponents.
After being deadlocked for quite some time, Nicaragua’s Widman Talavera got close enough to the front of the goal to effect his country’s first strike. Six Guyanese players huddled in the area, as well as Goal-keeper Ronaldo Blair, were not enough to stop Talavera’s strike, which came in the 32nd.
However, with a few near misses of their own, the Junior Jaguars were able to fend off their opponents for the remainder of the 45 minutes of the first half.
The Nicaraguans meant strictly business in the second half, as Talavera opened with another goal. In the 48th, contrary to the up close and personal plays the Nicaraguans were attempting, Talavera finally took a long shot, well outside the 18-yard area, and connected successfully.
Wily play Keylon Batiz handed Nicaragua their 3rd goal in the 54th. A series of plays found the ball airborne in front of the goal, and recognising this as opportunity, Batiz moved around the back of the Guyanese defender to perfectly position himself to tuck the ball into the opposite corner from where Blair was positioned.
By this time, the Guyanese were noticeably frustrated, missing key opportunities to find the back of the net. A similar volley to their previous goal afforded Nicaragua their fourth, coming off the boot of William Palacios.
Palacios made it a brace to his name with another goal in the 77th.
One of Guyana’s standout opportunities was a play created by Captain Omari Glasgow, which would have resulted in an assist to his name. However, the other striker failed to find the back of the net, as the ball went awry in the 80th.
A victory on Wednesday night was crucial to Guyana’s participation in not only the CONCACAF U20 Championships, but also FIFA’s Under-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Having topped the group, Nicaragua will be the lone team from Group D to seal their qualification to the CONCACAF Championships next year.