Bermuda warmed up for the Concacaf Boys Under-15 Championship with a 3-2 defeat against the World Elite Talents at Goose Gosling Field on Friday.

Although the World Elite were largely younger than the under-15 side, their line-up included seven top juniors from European academies as well as the best players from Kenny Thompson’s K-Tech programme.

Among the overseas talents were Xavi Simons, 14, of Barcelona, Omar Hutchinson, 13, of Arsenal, Denim Nnamudi, of Chelsea, ten, and Ajax quartet Hakeem Agboluaje, eight, Solomon Bonnah, 14, Amourrichio van Axel Dongen, 12, and Jenno Campagne, 14.

The The two groups of players trained together last week as part of the K-Tech programme.

It was the under-15 side, coached by John Barry Nusum and his assistant Cecoy Robinson, who took the lead in the 26th minute when forward Jai Pitt curled in a free kick.

The World Elite hit back a minute later through striker Van Axel Dongen with a neat finish after latching onto a through ball by midfielder Xavi.

An own goal early in the second half restored the under-15’s lead before Xavi lived up to his billing as one of the best youngsters in the world with a superb effort from distance on the hour.

Van Axel Dongen then scored his second with a lobbed effort in the 73rd minute to hand the World Elite a well-deserved win.

Robinson said he was impressed with the way his side competed and believed the match served as ideal preparation for their upcoming competition.

“I thought they played really well,” said Robinson, who also captains PHC Zebras in the Premier Division. We gave away a couple of goals but we’re still a work in progress. It was definitely good preparation for us as they were high-quality players.

“Their movement off the ball would of helped us get physically and mentally prepared for the work we will have to do [at the Championship].”

The championship, held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, will pit Bermuda in a group with El Salvador, Martinique and Cuba, with the top team advancing to the next round.

All 40 eligible Concacaf member associations are expected to participate. Honduras captured the inaugural Championship in 2013, topping a field of 22 teams in the Cayman Islands.

“We will take it game by game as we’ve got a pretty tough group,” said Robinson, who has been working with the team, along with Nusum, since December last year.

“We’ve got a lot of talent and will be looking to impose our football as much as we can and go from there. It’s a pretty good age group and we’re looking forward to see them perform.”

Regillio Simons, a former top-flight striker in the Netherlands, coached the World Elite and admitted the game was slightly more physical than he would have liked.

“I thought it was a good exhibition for everyone,” Simons, the father of Xavi, said. “I was pleased with the way the boys handled the physical game as they were a lot younger than the [Bermuda Under-15 side],” Simons said. “I got angry at the referee because there were three horrible fouls and if we have injuries I have a problem.”

Simons, the Ajax youth-team coach, added: “I thought Bermuda were a physical team with a lot of speed. As long as they stay calm and try and get the ball to the quick players, they’re a fairly good team.”

Thompson, who organised the match as part of the K-Tech Football Summer School, sponsored by The Royal Gazette, added: “We had a really good crowd and the match was entertaining. It was competitive and both teams played to win — I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I thought the Bermudian players who played for the World Elite did really well, too.”