Trinidad & Tobago 2 Bermuda 1

Bermuda saved their best performance of the World Cup qualifying campaign for last as they were unlucky to be beaten by Trinidad & Tobago last night.

The Gombey Warriors dominated most of the second half and deservedly equalised in the 59th minute when Ne-Jai Tucker struck a low left-foot shot that squirmed under Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Philip’s body.

That strike cancelled out Trinidad defender Kobi Henry’s looping header in the ninth minute. Bermuda thought they had gone 2-1 up in the 64th minute when Djair Parfitt bundled the ball into the net from a yard after Danté Leverock’s powerful header from a corner was blocked on the line.

However, Parfitt was ruled offside in a tight decision to leave Michael Findlay looking dejected on the touchline.

Just a minute after Bermuda’s hearts had been broken, Trinidad took the lead when Nathaniel James was played through on goal and calmly slotted past debutant Milai Perott in the Bermuda goal.

Findlay made a handful of changes for the game at Hasely Crawford Stadium, with Perott handed his first start in goal as Dale Eve was unable to overcome an injury sustained in the match against Curaçao.

Daniel Cook replaced Logan Jimenez at left back, with Ne-Jai Tucker starting in place of Reggie Lambe and playing an advanced role in midfield alongside Aunde Todd and Keziah Martin.

Bermuda started the game brightly and created the first two chances, with the opening opportunity coming inside the first 20 seconds. A long ball from Cook looked destined to put Zeiko Lewis through on goal but the winger was unable to gather the ball in.

Tucker then struck a fierce shot from outside the box in the sixth minute but the ball went straight at Trinidad’s 41-year-old goalkeeper Phillip.

But just as things were looking promising for Bermuda, they fell behind in the ninth minute. Defender Kobi Henry, who scored against Bermuda at Flora Duffy Stadium last month, was again on the scoresheet when his header from a Noah Powder free kick found the roof of the net.

That Bermuda went in at half time only 1-0 down was largely down to a fantastic effort from Perott, who showed that he is not out of place at this level with a string of fantastic saves.

With Bermuda full backs Cook and Lejaun Simmons left exposed on a number of occasions, Trinidad wingers Ryan Telfer and Real Gill created a host of chances and Perott was called into action in the twentieth minute. The young goalkeeper was smartly down to his left to push away a shot from Steffen Yeates after good work from Gill.

Just four minutes later, Perott made a good save with his right foot from Deron Payne, who had been put through on goal by a defence-splitting pass from Yeates.

Trinidad then produced the move of the game, going from defence to attack in three passes. Gill produced a fantastic cross from the left to find the onrushing Kevin Molino, who took the ball on the volley and looked to have found the corner of the net before Perrot produced a fantastic one-handed save.

Perott made another fine save from Dill in the 41st minute and there was still time for Bermuda defender Harry Twite to produce a fantastic goalline clearance to prevent Trinidad from doubling their advantage.

In a second-half downpour Bermuda started to dominate and missed a handful of chances before finally getting their equaliser.

Phillip pulled off a great save from Parfitt in the 49th minute, with Simmons getting to the rebound and driving it across for Tucker, who produced a cheeky back-heel that was cleared off the line.

Just a minute later, Simmons was put through on goal from a Leverock through ball but a poor touch allowed Phillip to block the shot.

Zeiko Lewis then stabbed the ball over the bar under pressure before Bermuda deservedly scored their third goal in the group when Tucker drew the Gombey Warriors level.

The Video Assistant Referee quickly extinguished hopes of picking up three points and James’s strike ensured that Bermuda would finish the final group stage with no points.

In the other game in the group, Curacao drew 0-0 away in Jamaica to ensure they topped the group and become the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup. Jamaica were awarded a penalty in added time but VAR overturned the referee’s decion to leave the Reggae Boyz heading into an intercontinental play-off.

SCORERS

Trinidad: Henry 9, James 65

Bermuda: Tucker 59

TEAMS

Trinidad (4-3-3) M Phillip ― , J Jackie, K Henry, N Powder (sub: A Raymond, 72min), D Payne ― K Molino, S Yeates (sub: D Phillips 79), A Rampersad (sub: D David, 79) ― R Telfer (sub: K Auvray, 61), R Gill (sub: W Frederick, 61), N James. Substitutes not used: L Sween, D Sealy, I Garcia, J Garcia, J Brice, D Smith.

Bermuda (4-3-3) M Perott ― D Cook, H Twite, D Leverock, L Simmons (sub: E Blankendal, 86) ― K Martin, A Todd (sub: R Lee, 70), N Tucker ― D Parfitt (sub: L Jimenez, 86), Z Lewis (sub: J Donawa, 69), E Russell (sub: D Thompson, 86). Substitutes not used: D Eve, R Robinson, B Morrison, R Lambe, R Smith-Jones, D Bell, C Fubler.

Referee: J Torres (Puerto Rico)