Guyana go down 5-0 in World Cup first leg
(From Isaiah Chappelle in Grenada. IN association with Liat, Demerara Power Company Limited, Woon-A-Tai Shell Service Station and Swiss House Cambio)
Guyana Chronicle
March 1, 2004
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HUNTED and haunted by USA-based striker Ricky Charles, Guyana’s defence conceded five goals against hosts Grenada in the first leg of the World Cup football qualifying series at the National Stadium, St George’s, Saturday night.
A huge crowd who had predicted a 6-0 whipping of Guyana on radio call-in programmes, witnessed their heroes plant the ball into the net for a massive 5-0 victory.
Nigel Bishop, Kennedy Phillip, Anthony Augustin, Anthony Modeste (captain) and Denk Rennie netted the goals, in an astonishing defeat of Guyana who had defeated Barbados 2-0 in a warm-up match, who in turn had twice beaten the Spice Boyz.
But the Grenadians brought in seven overseas-based players, four of whom were in the starting line-up. Three players came from the USA, a professional in the Major League and two in college football. Two travelled from the United Kingdom, one from Hungary’s professional arena and the captain from Jamaica professional league.
But it was Charles who broke down Guyana’s defence with quick reaction and faster bursts for goal, who invariable shook off any marker to play totally free in strike.
Charles began his hunt for goal within five minutes of play, breaking away from the porous defence and hammering the ball from ten metres out but it crashed on the crossbar.
Guyana’s Gregory Richardson had a golden opportunity, five minutes later, but his headshot went outside the left post of the northern goal, wasting a good cross.
However, Charles continued to be a thorn in Guyana’s defence and got away several times through a hole in the centre as an injured Orlando Jilgeous was slow to react.
Then in the 35th minute, from a left throw-in, Sharlrie Joseph passed the ball to Charles who offered a shot, blocked by goalkeeper Marlon Hendricks who went down in the process. Bishop easily slotted the ball in, from almost the goal line.
Just four minutes later, Phillips received the ball at the halfway line on the left wing, raced to left of the box, advanced closer to goal unchallenged by a flat-footed defence and sent a powerful right-foot narrow angle shot from five metres out to rock the net for the second goal. The Grenadians went into halftime leading 2-0.
Guyana came out for the second half more composed, knocking the ball nicely, even forcing the first corner of the game, seven minutes into the segment. The visitors had one more corner, while the hosts had four.
But eleven minutes in, Charles again broke away from the centre, but the off side did not go up. Hendricks quickly advanced and intercepted him just outside the box, bringing him down to thwart a certain goal.
The referee flashed the red card and Guyana inserted reserve goalkeeper Andrew Durant, taking off striker Randolph Jerome, leaving just Richardson up front. But the two strikers were clearly not synchronising, both trying to score individually. And 25 minutes in, midfielder Hernandez was substituted with Carey Harris and shortly after Grenada’s third goal materialised.
Reduced to ten men, Guyana held out until the 72nd minute as captain Shawn Beveney, Dirk Archer and Kayode McKinnon played a Herculean role in containing the attacks, with McKinnon and Walter Moore trying counterattacks.
From a left corner in, Grenada made three attempts to goal, before USA-based substitute Augustine netted the goal from close quarters.
Again in the 81st minute, Grenada forced a corner and the kick from the left went beautifully in front of the goal and Modeste planted the ball into the net with a super headshot.
In closing minutes, Guyana took off Richardson who was not passing the ball and inserted Anthony Abrams. Grenada still had one more goal to score. Rennie found Durant down and raced in to finish in the 91 minute.
Guyana now have to beat Grenada 6-0, or seven clear goals in the return leg at the Blairmont Community Centre ground on March 14 to advance to the next round. The team travelled to Trinidad & Tobago where they will meet that country’s national team in a warm-up match tomorrow night.
The starters for Guyana were: goalkeeper Marlon Hendricks, defenders Orlando Jilgeous, Howard Lowe, Orville Carroll (Bobb) and Walter Moore, midfielders Dirk Archer, Shawney Beveney (captain), Neil Hernandez and Kayode McKinnon and strikers Gregory Richardson and Randolph Jerome.
Grenada’s starters were: goalkeeper Kellon Baptiste, defenders Anthony Modeste (captain), Brian Benjamin, Franklyn Baptiste and Kennedy Phillip, mid-fielders Jason James, Sharlrie Jospeh, Patrick Modeste and Byron Bubb, and strikers Nigel Bishop and Ricky Charles.