Trinidad & Tobago 2 Bermuda 2

Global confusion surrounded Bermuda’s final World Cup qualifying game last night as the result was recorded wrongly around the world.

After Djair Parfitt had seemingly put Bermuda 2-1 ahead in the 64th minute, Concacaf’s live coverage said the goal had been ruled out for offside.

But that announcement was wrong and after the game finished 2-2, the score was wrongly displayed on Concacaf, Fifa and BBC websites as well as major news outlets around the world until the scoreline was officially corrected about a couple of hours after the game ended.

The chaos surrounding the score could not overshadow Bermuda saving their best performance of the campaign for last.

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 Phillip’s body.

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

Just a minute after Bermuda took the lead they were pegged back 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 with Dale Eve 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.

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 Perott produced a fantastic one-handed save.

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.

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.

Parfitt then raised hopes of Bermuda picking up three points until James’s quick reply ensured that Bermuda would finish the final group stage with a point.

In the other game in the group, Curaçao 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 decision to leave the Reggae Boyz heading into an intercontinental play-off.

SCORERS

Trinidad: Henry 9, James 65

Bermuda: Tucker 59, Parfitt 64

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).