The fairy tale run for Team Guyana in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls’ U-14 Challenge Series came to a gut-wrenching halt on Friday in Trinidad and Tobago.
After an epic, scoreless battle that pushed both sides to the absolute limit, Guyana’s hopes for a spot in the Tier II final were dashed in a sudden-death penalty shootout, falling 7-6 to a resilient French Guiana side.
The match at the Larry Gomes Stadium was a masterclass in tactical discipline. For 70 minutes, neither team ceded an inch.
It was a true stalemate, a defensive chess match with a final score of 0-0 after regulation time, reflecting the intense pressure and high stakes on the line.
The tension was palpable as the referee’s whistle signaled the end of normal time. Everything came down to the spot.
French Guiana appeared on the verge of victory after their first five kicks, converting through Tifanny Dadoe, Manuella Mantez, Wendia Monteiro, and Maylise Ambroise.
A miss by Shemia King gave Guyana a lifeline, but Matanya Roberts’ subsequent shot sailed high over the crossbar, leaving the door ajar for the Guyanese squad.
Guyana responded with a clinical display of nerve. Lehiana Bengamin, Kira Chor, Kaleigh Todd, and Leandra Henrito all calmly found the back of the net to keep their championship dreams alive.
As the shootout bled into sudden death, the pressure intensified with each kick. French Guiana’s Eve Desormeaux, Naylann Xavier, and Myrancia Apelombie held their composure, while Thais Charles and Sonia Simon responded in kind for Guyana.
The unforgettable moment came when French Guiana’s goalkeeper, Keysha Balotte, stood firm. With the game on her shoulders, she pulled off a stunning, match-winning save against Sonia Simon, sending the French Guiana bench into a frenzy of celebration and leaving the Guyanese players to process the agonizing sting of defeat.
The loss marked the first time the young squad had tasted defeat in the tournament.
They had earned their spot in the semi-finals by topping Group C, showcasing their defensive fortitude with a gritty 0-0 draw against the Cayman Islands.
That result capped a perfect group stage campaign with three impressive victories: a 1-0 win over Anguilla, a dominant 2-0 performance against the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.
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