Gold Cup: Guyana, Grenada face off in must-win showdown

After weeks of intense preparation, Guyana’s senior national Men’s football team will take on Grenada on Saturday in the Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims in Fort Lauderdale.

The match will kick off at 21:00h, and both sides are cognisant of the significance of this game, as a defeat for either would end their campaign.

This is a long and historic series, with 17 previous meetings between the sides. Grenada has won 10 matches, while Guyana has won five.

However, this is the first time the teams have faced off at the Gold Cup.

The Golden Jaguars reached the group stage for the first time in 2019 and are making their second straight trip to Florida for the Prelims.

Guyana arrived in Fort Lauderdale through Nations League B, finishing with a 3W-1D-2L record.

Nineteen-year-old Omari Glasgow led the way with three goals, and it certainly looks like he could be the next big thing in Guyanese football.

The veteran Neil Danns still pats the midfield at 40 and scored thrice at the 2019 Gold Cup.

A similar performance this time around would garner plenty of comparisons to former Cameroon great Roger Milla.

Grenada has appeared in the group stage on three prior occasions and is now two wins away from doing so for a second consecutive tournament.

The Spice Boyz ended up in the Prelims after a third-place finish in their League A group, behind the United States and El Salvador.

Jamal Charles, who scored once in League A, has seven total Nations League goals across the two editions of the competition so far.

Also, a threat to score is Romar Frank, who netted Grenada’s only goal at the 2021 tournament. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong provided a goal and an assist during the Nations League.

Despite some previous experience, a victory would be the first ever at the Gold Cup for either side.

The winner will move forward to face Guadeloupe for a spot in the group stage. Guadeloupe defeated Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 on Friday evening.