By Eric Collymore
Guyana’s senior men’s football team, the Golden Jaguars, were forced to settle for a draw against Martinique in their Concacaf Nations League match on Monday.
The result follows a lackluster performance and a previous disappointing game against Suriname.
The Golden Jaguars initially took the lead in the 14th minute when Isaiah Jones, capitalizing on a pass from Kadell Daniel, scored his first goal for the national team.
The advantage was further solidified when Martinique’s Florent Poulolo was shown a red card for a handball, leaving the visitors with ten men.
Jones added a second goal for Guyana in the 24th minute, bringing the score to 2-0.
However, Martinique managed to pull one back just before halftime, making it 2-1.
Despite holding a numerical advantage, Guyana struggled to maintain their lead in the second half as Martinique pressed hard, creating several opportunities to equalize.
The Golden Jaguars also had their chances, with their closest attempt coming in the 59th minute.
The game took a turn in the 86th minute when Rudy Varane scored for Martinique, leveling the match at 2-2.
This late goal ensured a hard-fought draw for the French-speaking team.
After the match, Isaiah Jones expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, acknowledging missed opportunities and the need for improvement.
He emphasized that the upcoming game against Guatemala on October 11 will be crucial, describing it as a “must-win” encounter.
The Golden Jaguars will need to address their performance issues as they prepare for their next challenge in the Nations League.