Jahzyiah Samuels admits she was surprised to score in Bermuda’s 5-1 demolition of Curaçao in the Concacaf Caribbean Women’s Under-20 Qualifier at the National Stadium.

The 16-year-old came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute and took just two minutes to score Bermuda’s fourth goal — and her first at international level — with a sublime finish in the opening group B game on Wednesday. “I was actually really shocked and I’m still excited the day afterwards,” Samuels said yesterday.

“It was a very special moment for me because I have been practising and playing for this team for a long time and scoring a goal finally came true.”

As the daughter of former Boulevard player Jahmel Samuels, football flows deeply in the forward’s veins.

“My whole family plays football,” she said. “Football is in my blood and was the first sport I played.”

Samuels was among a trio of second-half substitutes that scored in Bermuda’s victory as Nia Christopher and Adia Gibbons were also on target.

Striker Deshae Darrell scored Bermuda’s opening goal while midfielder Teyah Lindo netted in the 68th minute.

“I thought we played well and made Bermuda proud,” Samuels added.

“I’m very proud of my team and also proud of myself.

“We have been working very hard and I’m very happy and excited with the support we got.

“We are proving a lot of people wrong and I think everyone should get behind us because we really love football.”

Samuels believes the close bond between the players is one of the hallmarks of coach Aaron Denkins’s squad.

“We have known each other for a very long time and we’re all like best friends and sisters,” she added. “We all connect on and off the field.”

Bermuda face Jamaica in their final group B qualifier on Sunday in a match that will decide who advances to the four-team regional qualifiers in St Kitts & Nevis in November.

“Jamaica are a very strong team but so are we and I have faith in our team that we can win and make our fans proud,” Samuels said.

“I think we need all the support we can get because this is a very hard game for us. We want to win and having our country behind makes us want to achieve it even more.”

Jamaica open their qualifying campaign against Curaçao today. Kick off is 8pm.