Yes, it was really a very exciting start of the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup for Stephen Hart and his team.
The joy of the victory is much more than we all expected, knowing that we have not been blessed with a smooth road which led to the Soldier Field in Chicago, USA.
Having seen Guatemala succumb to a convincing victory by the USA by 4-0, it dawned on me that this type of humiliation five days before the tournament would not have been to their liking.
They were made to chase shadows constantly in that game and something told me that they will be distraught over the defeat to the point that they will be uncertain as to what type of game they should play against T&T.
Coach Hart was optimistic about his team getting its first victory, especially as the backbenchers had come good against Haiti in their final warm up.
As the players took the field for their pregame session, it was clear to me that this slippery, soft surface must call for some intelligent adjustments to the type of game to which they were accustomed.
I rushed for an update of the Guatemalans to take a close look at their game preparation. They looked somewhat sluggish and possibly on the wrong side of thirty-years old.
They showed me that I was correct twenty minutes into the first half. It was three goals in twenty three minutes, scored by the Warriors that decided to send them some attacking reminders similar to the USA.
I have to admit that the plan was not in keeping with teams who knew how to deal with similar situation in terms of ground conditions.
There was not much stringing of passes, but more of these chipped long balls which defenders like to use when they saw no opportunity for the short passes to their midfielders.
The expectation which coach Hart when choosing his midfielders appeared to be the message for absolute penetration, worked like a dream, as Hyland and Guerra, operated as ball winners while they brought the guile, skill and potency of Joevin Jones showed up most impressively on the left side. It also invited Daniel Cyrus to leave his right wing back port and utilized his speed down the right flank to be a demon for the Guatemala defenders Vasquez and Hernandez.
The physically capable athletes which they have always been, showed up immediately and within twenty three minutes, Bateau showed up with aggression to volley a corner kick from Hyland onto the inner portion of the post and into the net. Before we could complete the joy of our pleasant surprise, up came an aerial pass to Cato, whose awkward jump with opponent Hernandez appeared to elude them both from gaining definite control. Luckily, Cato got off the ground quickly and surprise! Surprise, the ball was at his feet.
He used a small portion of his speed, slipped past the keeper Jerez and an open goal was his reward. Hart could not control his emotional joy as he clinched his fists and did a warlike trot towards no one in particular.
Little did he know that Attula Guerra, who had previously produced some fine passes to (J) Jones down the left side, and (K) Jones through the middle with clinical accuracy, produced yet another to (J) Jones. His well-timed pass between two poorly placed Guatemalan Central defenders met Cato as the recipient. His shot struck the approaching keeper and bubbled into an unforgiveable open space ten meters from the goal line.
The quick footed son of former national Kelvin Jones won the race to the free ball and slot it powerfully into an unprotected net.
Emotions ran high, despite the fact that there was only a moderate form of qualitative play from either side, but more so a lethargic start by Guatemala, the warriors went on the warpath and gained a comfortable lead.
Maybe it was complacency, or even mental deficiency by some warriors that the battle was over. Players started to do some extraordinary things, like defenders running forward without good reason and leaving space behind their backs, midfielders taking a sabbatical and all of a sudden, Guatemala showed up with some possession of the ball in midfield, and gave inclinations as to their desire to fight back into the game.
For fifteen minutes plus leading to half time, the level of passing and positioning went berserk, strikers went on a short vacation, and left the Guatemalans believe that they still have hope in getting a formidable result.
Halftime was a blessing for the Warriors, as they could now sit and ponder as to what is needed in order to close off this game early in the second half.
My dear friends, it never happened, our game had remained passive and without much of any type of plan. The players whom we have previously considered as good players, provided very little apart from the consistency of Cyrus, (J) Jones and Bateau.
Guatemala were able to retain sixty five percent of the possession, outshot the Warriors by seven shots at goal to the warriors two and produced one well taken goal which Abu Bakr would probably have had a nightmare for his failure to mark a solitary attacker within a metre from him inside the penalty area.