Vincy Heat gives up ‘Mickey Mouse goals’

Technical Director and Head Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Senior Football team Colwyn Rowe has described the three goals scored by Guatemala last Friday afternoon,{{more}} in the CONCACAF Group E match here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, as “Mickey Mouse goals”.

A disappointed Rowe told reporters in a post-match interview, “You can’t play in World Cup games and let in goals like those and get positive results.”

Rowe, without apportioning blame to anyone specifically, also referred to the goals as being “weak and sloppy goals”.

Vincy Heat, as the Vincentian outfit is nicknamed, started positively, matching their Central American counterparts stride for stride, in steamy weather conditions. The Vincentians, who altered their tactics slightly, playing their 4-3-3 formation, seemed to have the measure of the match, and created several half chances.

But it was the Guatemalans who had something to show, as another lapse in the Vincentians’ defence, which switched off momentarily, allowed the visitors’ talisman, Mario Rodriquez, to chose his spot and slam the ball past Dwaine Sandy in the 44th minute.

Sporting a distinctive blond-streaked hair style, Rodriquez doubled his tally when he again made good of a defensive lapse in marking and awareness, to beat Sandy in the 58th minute.

Dwight Pezzaraoss, who was inserted in the 34th minute to replace Jonathan Lopez, made no mistake as he was gifted a goal in the 71st minute, as Guatemala pouched an uncomplicated three points.

Sandy was called into action on a few occasions, as his teammates’ lethargy became more pronounced.

The result meant that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is yet to score against Guatemala, having also lost 4-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA in 1996.

On the positive side though, Rowe thought that his charges have shown some improvements from their last outing in Guatemala, when they went under 4-0.

Rowe’s view was shared by his opposite number, Eros Alexandro, who said that he thought the Vincentians played a better match this time around than in the September 2 outing.

Speaking through local interpreter and former Vincy Heat Captain Chester Morgan, the Guatemalan coach said he was surprised by the Vincentians’ aggression in the first stanza of the match.

This aggression, he said, caused them to make an early change in their lineup, hence the first half substitution.

Following last Friday’s match, Vincy Heat remains on three points, the same with Grenada and Belize; however, the Vincentians have the worst goal differential, that of minus six.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ next match is set for this Saturday in Grenada. The Grenadians are coming off their first success, having laced Belize 4-1 in Belmopan last Friday, and have a goal difference of minus one, the same as the Belizeans.

Guatemala is unblemished with nine points from their three matches and is set to meet Belize in Guatemala City today, Tuesday. A win will virtually assure them of advancement in the campaign. (RT)