Rowland double helps Junior Jags edge Turks and Caicos
A late goal from Turks and Caicos in the final minutes of their encounter with Guyana’s National Under 20 Men’s football team sent panic through the Guyanese camp, but the Junior Jags were able to hold their nerves to complete the 2-1 victory, 3 minutes into stoppage time; ending their CONCACAF Men’s U20 Championship Qualifiers on a high note.
Ezekiel Rowland was the chief architect in Guyana’s narrow win on Thursday, netting both goals for the Land of Many Waters.
Head Coach Kayode McKinnon opted three changes to his starting XI which read, Captain Solomon Austin, Goal keeper Julien Casimir, Gerry Burnette, Tyler Lyle, Tyrel Stephen, Kymani Sealey, Ezekial Rowland, Matrim Martin, Brandon Khedoo, Shemaiah Samuels and Nathaniel Pydana.
Rowland first found the back of the net in the 32nd minute as the scores remained 1-0 at the end of the first half. Guyana’s tally could have moved to two in the 49th, but Nathaniel Pydana’s attempt from the penalty mark was saved by the Turks keeper Samuel Harvey.
Just six minutes later, Rowland secured the second strike and it seemed as though the scores would remain 2-0 at the end of the encounter.
However, Turks’ Emmanuel Martin pulled one back in the 90th to give his team hope in stoppage time. But the draw was not to be as Guyana’s defence held up for the victory.
The Junior Jaguars now end the CONCACAF Qualifying tournament with one win, two losses and a draw to Turks and Caicos, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda and El Salvador respectively.