The Lady Jags prior to their clash against Cuba Today
THE Lady Jags played to a 1 – 1 draw with rivals Cuba, when the two sides met today in the Dominican Republic at the Caribbean Football Union (FCU) leg of the Olympic Qualifier.
Lady Jags captain Ashley Rodrigues *file photo*
Playing at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristóbal, Guyana found the back of the net twelve minutes into the contest through their skipper Ashley Rodrigues but the Lady Jags could not have kept the Cubans at bay and allowed them to equalise in the 34th minute.
Justine Rodrigues could’ve given the Lady Jags the lead and probably the game, if she her header didn’t hit the cross bar in the second half.
The Cubans scouted the Guyanese women after seeing the ‘Lady Jags’ dismantle St Kitts and Nevis (8 – 0), but the technical staff surprised them with a different line up.
It was Cuba’s first game of the tournament while Guyana wrapped up their stay on the Island having defeated St Kitts and Nevis 8 – 0 in their opening Group Four match.
The result means that Guyana’s fate of advancing hangs in a balance and will be decided in the Cuba versus St Kitts and Nevis clash on Tuesday August 25.
Coach Mark Rodrigues ladies ended their Group stage campaign undefeated but now, they will be keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that Cuba don’t beat St Kitts and Nevis by more than eight goals.
Meanwhile, despite not picking up the win, Rodrigues believes that his girls “played really well” and added “we dominated them in the first half and spilt the second as we defended and played out on the counter”
Guyana’s eyes are set on CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship qualification tournament but for now, the Lady Jags will be anxiously awaiting the Cuba/St Kitts result.