Guyana Triumphs over Grenada on Penalties 5-3 to Progress to Second Round
Grenada came up short in the Penalty Shootout Against Guyana 3-5.
Guyana celebrates the team’s victory over Grenada in a penalty shootout 5-3
Photo: Gasner Delvarin Jr
June 18, 2023
Gasner Delvarin Jr, Writer
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - Guyana emerged victorious over Grenada 5-3 in a penalty shootout to end the third event of the day at the DRV PNK Stadium. This impressive triumph propels Guyana into the second round of the Gold Cup Prelims and brings them within reach of qualifying for the Gold Cup group stage for only the second time in their history.
The early initiative in the contest came in the 17th minute when Grenada's Mackell Gannes committed a handball inside the penalty box. However, Grenada's goalkeeper, Reice Charles-Cook, stopped Neil Danns' penalty.
The Golden Jaguars responded in the 22nd minute with a long-range shot outside the penalty area from Omari Glasgow, granting Guyana the lead at 1-0.
Nearly 90 seconds into the second half, Guyana almost doubled their lead when the defender Liam Gordon entered the penalty box and got off a shot to the near crossbar.
Guyana did not stop their attack in the 57th minute with a through ball for Deon Moore, who scored off the post, but the referee whistled an offside.
Grenada retaliated in the 60th minute as Jacob Berkeley Agyepong ran into the box, delivering a cross that hit off Kairo Mitchell's boot into the net to equalize at 1-1.
With neither team able to break the deadlock in the remaining time, the match led to a penalty shootout.
Both teams started well in the penalty shootout until Guyana's goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle made the save of the match, denying Agyepong's penalty.
Daniel Wilson, up next, stepped up and confidently struck the decisive shot, securing a 5-3 shootout victory for the Golden Jaguars.
Now, Guyana will have a few days to prepare for their upcoming encounter with Guadeloupe on Tuesday, 20 at 4:30 p.m., where a place in Group D of the tournament is at stake.
2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, Reice Charles-Cook, Neil Danns, Omari Glasgow, Kairo Mitchell, Daniel Wilson, Gasner Delvarin Jr., Sports Action Rundown