Bermuda made the perfect start to their Concacaf Under-20 Championship qualifying campaign after coming from behind to upset group favourites St Kitts and Nevis at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Curaçao last night.

Tehvan Tyrell, the striker, led the charge with a brace while Knory Scott, the attacking midfielder, also got his name on the scoresheet in the vital 3-1 victory.

Bermuda demonstrated tremendous character with every team member playing out of their skin to leave coach Kyle Lightbourne beaming with pride after the final whistle.

“I thought it was a good performance from the team,” Lightbourne said. “I thought everyone put in a good shift and showed a lot of character.

“We started the game well but went behind when they were awarded a penalty from a handball. But we recovered well and did to them what teams have been doing to us for years, we man-handled them first half.

“We bossed the game and then second half they had a go at us, but we withstood their pressure.

“We kept them at arm’s length and could have scored more goals.”

Lightbourne’s prior knowledge of his team’s opponents proved to be a valuable asset.

“Like I said before we left, the important thing was when the senior national team played against St Kitts Under-20s this summer we were able to see who their danger man was, and tonight we snuffed him out and kept him quiet,” he said.

“We were very pleased with the performance and well done to everyone involved in coaching our youngsters.

“Now it’s about recovery ahead of our next game against the hosts Curaçao and following up on this positive result which is so important to us.”

Tyrell, the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation, was unfortunate not to have come away with a hat-trick after twice striking the woodwork either side of the break.

Osagi Bascome was a bright spark in midfield throughout and assisted in two of Bermuda’s goals.

Bermuda were forced to chase the game after Diondre Dowling handled in the box in the sixteenth minute and St Kitt’s converted the ensuing penalty kick.

However, St Kitts’ joy only lasted ten minutes as Bermuda drew level.

Bascome linked up nicely with Scott who finished the raid off by lobbing the goalkeeper.

Bermuda then took the lead for good in the 30th minute when Tyrell received a pass from Bascome, turned his marker in the box, and planted a left foot shot into the bottom left corner.

Lightbourne’s charges then pulled further ahead in the 36th minute when Tyrell pounced on a poor clearance and bent a left footed shot past the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.

Tyrell had earlier gone close when he struck the upright in the first half and then had another effort tipped onto the crossbar by the goalkeeper in the second.

Bermuda will now meet hosts Curaçao on Sunday in their second group A fixture before facing Antigua and Barbuda in the third and final match on Tuesday.

All matches will be played at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Brievengat, Willemstad.

The group winners and runners-up will remain in Curaçao to play in the Caribbean Football Union Under-20 semi-finals and final.

Five teams from the Caribbean will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships in Costa Rica in March.