We paid for naive approach - Boyles
St Etienne 5
Devarr Boyles admitted Bermuda Grey were naive in yesterday's defeat at the hands of French side Staint-Etienne at the National Sports Centre.
Saint-Etienne's took the lead through Sofian Lachi but were unable to add to their tally until the final 20 minutes when Florian Lawson, Nabil Ejenavi, Kader Nassuf and Bilel Aoucharia all struck.
Chikosi Basden scored a superb goal for Bermuda to make it 3-1.
While the scoreline suggests the game got out of control, it was not until the latter stages of the game when Bermuda seemed to switch off and allow the floodgates to open.
"We have to understand that when we lose we can't lose big and we were a bit naive in this aspect," said youth director Boyles. "We need to show the players that when we do go down, it isn't the end of the game.
"We knew that Saint -Etienne would present problems with their movement. The first half was pleasing; the second half was okay until the end when it got away from us.
"Overall I'm pleased, the result will disturb the players, so that will hopefully motivate them to put on a good show in the final game."
Bermuda battled manfully in the first half but it was no surprise when Lachi put the French up 1-0 in the 30th minute when he latched onto a Sofiane Elmoudane pass, leaving 'keeper Diaz Chambers with no chance.
After the re-start it was Lawson who got on the scoresheet after Chambers fumbled a Brahim Touati free kick that fell to the feet of Lawson who calmly slotted home his chance from point blank range.
Five minutes later, Ejenavi headed home before Basden struck.
The winger rode challenges from two defenders before curling in his effort from some distance to make it 3-1 in the 68th.
But two late goals in stoppage time put paid to any thoughts of a comeback for Bermuda who, by this time, had seemingly ran out of gas.
Nassuf and Aoucharia both struck in injury time to make it 5-1. Saint Etienne are the only team to remain unbeaten going into their final match.
Boyles conceded that as the game wore on the physical nature of their opponents began to take a toll of his players who are the youngest in the tournament.
