Sunday, August 10, 2008 – Providence Stadium, Guyana: The atmosphere at the Providence Stadium excitement at the sound of Referee Mark Forde’s whistle as it signaled the end of the match and Guyana’s advancement to the second round of the Digicel Caribbean Championship (DCC).

Thanks to a 91st minute goal by Dwight Peters, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ drew (1-1) their grinding match up with old nemesis Suriname who had taken the lead in the first half via a splendid free kick Vangellino Sastronedjo.

The match was a bruising affair with both teams conscious that a win would have put them through to the next round as the group winner. All the Guyanese needed was a draw and that they got and one could have felt the ease of tension in the stadium as the home fans were all but lost in the dying moments of the match.

The equalizer came as a result of a goal mouth scrimmage from a corner kick in the final moments of the match. Peters finally kicked the ball past Ronny Aloema on about the 3rd attempt by the ‘Jaguars’ who were very desperate for a goal. Not only did the players, Technical and Management Staff enjoy the goal but His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, who were both on hand to witness the action.

Suriname took the lead after 22 minutes from a free kick on the right side of Guyana’s goal at the northern end of the ground. Goal keeper Richard Reynolds tried desperately to parry the ball away at full stretch flying to his right but was not able to do so. It was a well executed free kick by Sastronedjo. Both teams took the fight to each other as they tried to wrest the initiative and ultimately the game.

Many chances were created both ways but did not hit the final target, the back of the nets. While Guyana enjoyed good ball possession yet again, the finishing was also a cause for concern, a situation which Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz did not disagree with but said that work would have to be done at the club level to help ensure that improvement is had in this area.

Guyana also had a chance to equalise in the first half from a free kick in about the 35th minute but when Nigel Codrington took the kick which ended up in the nets, referee Forde had already blown his whistle for an infringement by the Surinamese wall of players.

Following the half time break, the Jaguars went after their prey in menacing fashion but the Surinamese were equal to the task, not allowing the attackers much space to achieve their objective of equalizing. But the Guyanese never gave up. The animated crowd started to urge their team on and they responded accordingly.

But kudos must be given to Suriname for frustrating the Guyanese forward line and being very resolute in defense. Shawn Bishop, Anthony Abrams and Devon Millington were introduced to the game in the last 25 minutes at various intervals and added some extra punch up front which resulted in more pressure on the visitors. Suriname too, injected fresh legs into the line up with Gary Sordjo, Geovanni Tiendari and Melvin Valies being introduced.

The Golden Jaguars after numerous attempts were finally rewarded with the equaliser which sent the fans into wild celebrations. Guyana and Suriname ended the group with one victory and a draw but the Guyanese had a better result against the 3rd team in the group, Dominica, 3-0 to Suriname’s 3-1.

President Jagdeo and Minister Anthony along with Guyana Football Federation President Colin Klass met both teams after the match. The DCC will continue with group C action from August 25 to September 1 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands. The host country will battle Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Martin for a place in the next group.


For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com



Guyana: 1. Richard Reynolds, 3. Howard Lowe, 4. Kester Jacobs, 5. Walter Moore, 8. Carey Harris, 9. Konata Mannings, 11. Collie Hercules, 13. Charles Pollard, 14. Dwight Peters, 17. Nigel Codrington, 18. Glenorvan Edmonds.



Subs: (12. Shawn Bishop), (Anthony Abrams), (19. Devon Millington).



Suriname: 1. Ronny Aloema, 2. Ferdinand Jap-A-Joe, 3. Derrick Garden, 4. Marlon Felter, 6. Romano Sordam, 8. Vangellino Sastronedjo, 9. Wensly Christophe, 10. Clifton Sanduvliet, 15. Rinaldo Lupson, 16. Germane Vandijck, 17. Lorenzo Wiebers.



Subs: (11. Gary Sordjo), (14. Geovanni Tiendari), (12. Melvin Valies).