Bonaire 1 Bermuda 7

Daley Outerbridge netted her first hat-trick for the national team as Bermuda put Bonaire to the sword in their second Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifying group B match at Flora Duffy Stadium last night.

After scoring seven against Suriname on Saturday night, Outerbridge’s two goals in the first half and another two minutes after the restart helped the Lady Gombey Warriors match that feat 48 hours later.

The victory sets up a winner-takes-all clash on Wednesday night when Bermuda square off against Panama, who top the group on goal difference after beating Suriname 8-0 earlier in the day. Only the group winners are guaranteed to make it into the next stage, with the two best runners-up from the six groups also progressing.

Outerbridge, who also had two assists in the game, was delighted with her performance.

“This is my first hat- trick for Bermuda and it feels good to be on the scoresheet this game,” she told The Royal Gazette.

Bermuda coach Gary Adams was delighted to see the North Village player finally open her account for the tournament.

“Daley is a quality player and I am glad that she got on the scoresheet tonight because she was a little bit upset about missing her chances in the other game,” he said.

“She stayed with the job she had to do and got her just reward so I am happy for her.”

Striker Milan Gibbons-Thomas (two) and midfielders Evans Welch and Nila Samuels were also on target for the home team, while Bonaire captain Shaimaris Mercera scored her team’s first goal of the tournament from the penalty spot to deny Bermuda a second clean sheet in the competition.

While pleased to come away victorious, coach Adams felt that his team failed to live up to his expectations.

“In my opinion I don’t think we showed our best,” he said. Yes, it’s good to get the three points, but I had higher expectations tonight.

“We didn’t have to rush so much. We could’ve slowed the game down, moved the ball a little bit quicker and then I think the opportunities to get more goals would have come.

“But it’s a good learning experience for the girl in patience and playing against a team that’s going to be low and learning to break that down.”

Adams also took issue with some of the officiating, particularly during the later stages of the match when tempers began to flare.

“I understand it’s a physical game and understand when you’re down and want to fight back,” he said. “But I really would have liked to have seen a little bit more control of the game.

“I would like to think the officials understand the game on Wednesday and the value that it holds to protect the players.

“But at the same time the girls being roughed up that experience will make them stronger for next time.”

Outerbridge made the early breakthrough when she tapped in Gibbons-Thomas’ headed flick on from Riley Khan’s corner. Gibbons-Thomas then went from provider to scorer when she drilled a shot into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Outerbridge grabbed her second of the match after dribbling past her marker and angling her shot into the far bottom corner.

Samuels then scored with a looping header from a Khan corner before Welch thumped in Bermuda’s fifth goal with a thunderous blast from outside the box to effectively put the match beyond reach.

Outerbridge and Gibbons-Thomas added two more goals after the restart before Bermuda conceded their first goal of the tournament when Mercera slotted home from 12 yards after her team were awarded a contentious penalty.

Play came to a halt in the closing minutes after Bonaire midfielder Charlotte Loo collapsed on the pitch and was subsequently taken to hospital in an ambulance, with team officials unable to provide an update on her status when approached after the final whistle.

Adams admits his team’s work is cut out against Panama in the deciding game of the group but feels his side can rise to the occasion

“I do think we have the quality to come away victorious,” he said.

“Obviously we were hoping to get some more goals so that we would have been on top of the table on goal difference.

“But it is what it is so we just need to recover the girls, come back out fully prepared and play a smart game because on paper this is hardest game.

“We hope that we get a great support to come out Wednesday night to give us the extra boost we may need.”

Scorers

Bonaire: Mercera 75 pen

Bermuda: Outerbridge 7, 29, 46, Gibbons-Thomas 18, 59, Samuels 31, Welch 37

Teams

Bonaire (4-1-4-1): S Sint Jago — F Es, X Saragoza, S Mercera, L Willems (sub: M Trenidad, 76 min) ― C Loo (sub: S Henriquez, 86) ― S Janzen (sub: R Pers, 57), E Den Boef (sub: I Boone, 86), I Prado Klinger, N Janga ― G Piar Cornelia (sub: G Hansen, 57).

Bermuda (4-3-3): J Simmons — T Glasgow, J Sealey (sub: A James, 70), Z Showers, A Barry — N Samuels, E Welch, A Taylor (sub: M Daponte, 59) — R Khan (sub: P Dill, 59), D Outerbridge (sub: C Dowling, 70), M Gibbons-Thomas (sub: N Medeiros, 90+3)

Referee: P Davis (Antigua and Barbuda)