A Lilian Perez goal broke Bermuda hearts at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup Caribbean qualifiers in Puerto Rico yesterday.

The Cuba striker took advantage of a brief lapse in judgement in the Bermuda defence to put her side ahead in a game that Aaron Denkin’s side dominated from start to finish.

Jade Stewart and LeiLanni Nesbeth both had chances to score, but were denied by some excellent goalkeeping from Liameuris Hernandez and desperate Cuban defending.

Manny Faria, the head of the Bermuda delegation, called the result “a heartbreaking defeat.”

Bermuda took charge of the game from the outset, and Stewart had an early chance to put her side ahead when Nia Christopher’s defence splitting pass sent her racing clear. Hernandez though was quickly off her line and saved bravely at the Bermuda winger’s feet.

The early exchanges tempted Aaron Denkins, the Bermuda coach, to throw on Jadae Steede-Hill upfront in place of Victoria Davis, believing the added bite would help them break down a stubborn Cuba defence.

That breakthrough did not come, and Bermuda were forced to make a second substitution soon after with Danni Watson replacing the injured Zakiyah Durham in defence.

Watson slotted seamlessly into the back four, and as Cuba grew in confidence, had to be alert to help her team-mates absorb the increasing pressure they found themselves under.

Still, Bermuda had the better of a goalless first half, and began the second in much the same vein.

The goal, with little more than an hour gone, came against the run of play, with Perez outmuscling the Bermuda defence before slotting the ball past the hapless Micah Pond in the Bermuda goal.

From dominating, Bermuda were left chasing an equaliser, and nearly had one ten minutes from time. But Nesbeth’s shot was parried away by Hernandez and the Cuban defence cleared the danger.

Stewart went close again minutes later, firing a shot just agonisingly over the crossbar, and although Bermuda pressed until the final whistle they could find no way through Hernandez and the Cuba defence.

Denkin’s team now face Jamaica tomorrow, before their last group A match against Puerto Rico on Tuesday.