Bermuda 0 Trinidad & Tobago 3

Bermuda coach Michael Findlay conceded that his side have placed themselves in a tricky situation in the World Cup qualifiers after losing to Trinidad & Tobago at Flora Duffy Stadium.

Goals from Dante Sealey, Tyrese Spicer and Kobi Henry condemned the Gombey Warriors to a third straight loss last night, which left Findlay’s team still bottom of group B with no points.

It was Trinidad’s first win of the campaign, and that lifted Dwight Yorke’s side to four points, three behind their next opponents and group leaders Curaçao, who shocked Jamaica 2-0 at home to leave the race open.

“There’s no doubt here we’ve put ourselves in a very precarious position of being eliminated from the final round of World Cup qualifying,” Findlay said.

“But until we know that for sure, we have to go away, regenerate and prepare because we've got a journey to Jamaica. We still have to play three more football matches in the final rounds of World Cup qualifying.

“If it turns out that we're eliminated at this stage, these are critical moments for learning and critical moments for growth and being able to deliver, so we’re always in these games.”

Bermuda made a bright start with captain Nahki Wells testing Denzil Smith with a left-footed strike from a fine pass by Keziah Martin in the sixth minute.

Two minutes later, Wells was again put through on goal, this time by Danté Leverock, with Smith pushing the ball out for a corner.

Failure to take the early opportunities saw the 2,900 largely Bermuda crowd silenced in the tenth minute. Levi Garcia was allowed space on the right, cut back on the inside to tee up Sealey for the opening goal.

Bermuda were forced into an early change in the 23rd minute when right back Reese Jones Jr limped off with a recurring knee problem to be replaced by Justin Donawa.

Trinidad doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Spicer beat Leverock’s challenge, rounded Dale Eve before slotting into an unattended goal.

Findlay felt that conceding early goals resulted in a change of approach from his team.

“I thought we started very well and we were applying the idea and the strategy that we discussed,” the coach said.

“Once again, we cause our own issues and that's a learning process for this group. They weren’t disheartened, which is another part of the growth that we’ve seen with them.

“But at the end of the day, Trinidad & Tobago executed when they needed to execute, and we did not.

“Because we did create some chances that early on maybe could have turned that situation.

“We have to be more disciplined, for example, in possession I think we lost the first goal, and I think it sort of changed the way we were playing. We should have been playing the way we thought we were going to play.

“I was very happy with how they [players] discussed things in the dressing room at half-time also. They kept themselves accountable, and that's what they need to do.

“They need to become a player-driven and player-led internally group, because I want them to be annoyed as much as I am and as much as everybody else is, including the fans, that we're not getting these victories at this critical stage.”

Just when Bermuda were looking to bounce back with Ne-Jai Tucker replacing Willie Clemons at the start of the second half, they gave away a third goal in the 49th minute. Henry, on his return to an island where his football career started, scored his maiden international goal with a header from a free kick.

“We made that change and it started OK,” Findlay said.

“But then again, we’ve given away a foul at the top of the box and free kicks can determine results at the end of the day, which kind of took the wind out of us.”

It was not an ideal 50th appearance for Leverock, who reached the milestone on the same night as Eve.

“It seems like just yesterday I was making my debut up here, so 50 caps was always a goal,” the 33-year-old said.

“I’ve always wanted to represent my country and being in front of my family. My goal was to get 50 caps, so we'll see what happens after this.

“It’s disappointing to lose, but luckily for us we have another game quickly. It’s always tough when you lose and you have to wait a couple of weeks or a couple of months to play again.

“We have another game next week, so we have a chance to bounce back and put a good account of ourselves.”

An elated Yorke spoke of how they had to deal with the early attack from the home side, before taking their chances.

“We needed to see the initial threat from Bermuda off,” the Manchester United legend said.

“But of course, getting the first goal does seem to help things a lot more. What I was looking for is all about attitude and the mentality, I think that’s an area that we’re trying to improve.

“We know that for a number of years we’ve been a very talented and gifted team over the years. But mentality, attitude, work ethic, the discipline and the structure within the football that we try to build.

“We’re seeing that come to fruition at times. Not ideal, but we can see the progress that the team is making. Since I have taken the reins in ten months, we’ve seen that we are advancing in the right direction.”

SCORERS

Trinidad & Tobago: Sealey 10, Spicer 30, Henry 49

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-2-3-1): D Eve — R Jones (sub: J Donawa, 23min), D Hill, D Leverock, H Twite — K Martin, W Clemons (sub: N Tucker, 46) — D Parfitt (sub: Z Lewis, 68), R Lambe (sub: R Lee, 68), K Crichlow (sub: R Smith-Jones, 76) — N Wells. Substitutes not used: C Fubler, D Bell, J Butterfield-Steede, K Richardson, L Simmons, A Todd. Booked: Martin.

Trinidad & Tobago (4-2-3-1): D Smith — R Cardines, A Raymond, K Henry, J Trimmingham — D Phillips (sub: J Jackie, 67), A Rampersad —T Spicer (sub: K Auvray, 79), S Yeates (sub: S Molino, 75), D Sealey (sub: D Payne, 74) — L Garcia (sub: J Obikwu, 67). Substitutes not used: J Brice, W Frederick, J Garcia, N James, N Powder, J St Hilaire, R Telfer. Booked: Spicer.

Referee: J Luna (Guatemala).

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