CONCACAF Nations League: Glasgow, Moore, Bonds braces bury Dominica 8-1

Guyana’s Senior Men’s National football team, the Golden Jaguars, have all but sealed their spot in next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and a spot in League ‘A’ of the next CONCACAF Nations League cycle following a dominant 8-1 victory over Dominica on Sunday afternoon.

The Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico was in for a treat as the National team’s starting XI, comprising Captain Elliot Bonds, goal keeper Quillan Roberts, Jalen Jones, Liam Gordon, Leo Lovell, Nathan Moriah- Welsh, Nathan Ferguson, Kelsey Benjamin, Darron Niles, Omari Glasgow and Deon Moore were keen on putting on a show.

Glasgow got the party started in just the 5th minute after Guyana’s forwards put pressure on the Dominican defence. Moore had the assist, sending the ball out to the left wing where Glasgow rushed the 18- yard box for a clean finish.

Moore had his own reward 13 minutes later, as an assist from Niles came across the face of the goal, leaving the Guaynese striker to slot the ball home at last post.

Dominica’s defence again found themselves crumbling under the pressure of an aggressive press. This time, the strike came off of a set piece from the corner.

Glasgow whipped the ball in, which fell to Jones beyond last post. As Jones kept the ball alive, both Ferguson and Moore mad unsuccessful attempts at the goal before Captain Bonds sent the left- footed shot past the young Dominican keeper, Dwight Eloi for his first international strike and Guyana’s 3rd of the game in the 24th minute.

Probably one of the most impressive presses of the 90 minutes, the Golden Jaguars made a quick turn- over from a Dominican corner kick in the 33rd minute. Benjamin was the lone soldier beyond the half- way mark and did an excellent job at holding off the Dominican defender to pass the ball off to Moore on the right flank. Moore took a few steps forward before executing the exchange perfectly, sending the ball to the left wing where it met Glasgow. Glasgow took the shot from just inside the box, extending his tally to two.

As such, the Golden Jaguars went into the break with a 4- goal lead which could have possibly been double if it weren’t for a slew of missed opportunities.

Coming into the contest in the 46th minute, Curtez Kellman ushered in the second stanza with a rollicking shot to make an instant impact for the Golden Jaguars. Kellman took the shot from just outside the box, piercing the crowded box for Guyana’s fifth goal in the 53rd.

4 minutes later, Moore completed his brace as the score moved to 6-0.

However, the Golden Jaguars just could not maintain their clean sheet. A mistake in the defence off a misdirected pass saw the ball being picked up by Dominica’s Reon Cuffy.

Noticing Roberts was off his line, Cuffy took the shot at goal just yards inside the Guyanese half, sending the ball over the Golden Jaguars’ keeper’s head and outstretched fingertips for their consolation strike in the 67th.

Guyana wasted no time in responding, as another substitute, Enoch George tapped in Imani Barker’s assist in the 69th for Guyana’s 7th strike.

Then in the 75th, Dominica’s keeper Eloi was unable to make a clean clearance, with the ball ricocheting off the back of a Guyanese players to create another opportunity in the box. The ball eventually fell to the feet of Guyana’s Captain Bonds, who shot in from the top of the box to secure his brace an put the cherry on top Guyana’s 8- goal spree.

With the victory, Guyana has moved 6 points clear of Puerto Rico at the top of the Group A points table in League ‘B’ up to press time, however, Puerto Rico was scheduled to take on Cayman Islands on Sunday evening.

As such, the Golden Jaguars, even with two games in hand, staring down a win in the Group and as a reward, will be able to advance to the Gold Cup and League ‘A’ next year. By topping the group, the Golden Jaguars will also go on to compete in the League’s Championship to compete for the title of League B Champions.