Bermuda 0 Costa Rica 8

Bermuda coach Naquita Robinson insists that the only way the senior women’s national team will improve is by playing the best teams in the region after they were beaten 8-0 by Costa Rica last night.

Costa Rica, ranked third in the Concacaf region behind United States and Canada, were clinical in the Women’s World Cup qualifier at Flora Duffy Stadium and Robinson remains proud of her team as she outlined what she sees as the key reasons behind the heavy defeat.

“These are the teams we want to play,” Robinson said.

“Costa Rica played Brazil on Friday night, so we knew what we were up against. Again, it’s just little Bermuda up against these big World Cup teams, but the result wasn’t what we wanted.

“We didn’t anticipate conceding as many goals as we did, but those things happen and we could have probably attacked the ball more on set pieces. We gave up a penalty and if we had made the right decision before the penalty, we wouldn’t have given it up. It’s been our Achilles' heel, making mistakes which other teams capitalise on.”

Bermuda had chances in the game and Robinson thinks more of her players need to be playing away from the island if they are to take the next step in performance.

“We had chances and we just didn’t finish them,” Robinson said. “That’s the difference between us and them and, ideally, you’d be getting more players off island and into a professional environment.

“These girls in the Costa Rica team eat, sleep and drink football. We have just Kenni Thompson who gets paid to play football.”

The Bermuda coach made adjustments at half time after Bermuda went into the interval five goals behind, with the changes bringing about an improved second-half display

“We knew the mountain that we had to climb,” Robinson said.

“We did our best to set up and tried to be defensively sound so that we were able to deal with their attack. We knew that they were going to press and they were a very skilful team.

“The second half was much better and it took a while to realise who we needed to nullify.”

The night proved a bittersweet occasion for Masters, who is calling time on her international career as a result of persistent knee problems and she admits the decision was a difficult one.

“I’m retiring because my knees said so,” Masters said.

“I want to be able to end on my own terms and that’s probably the best way to put it. It’s a hard decision because I love playing for Bermuda and my heart’s there.

“It’s happening after a lot of prayer and a lot of conversation with both family and coaches. I’ve known this for a while and it was so hard just to step away, but I knew it was time for me to turn the page and open the next chapter.”

Looking back on her career, the 23-year-old, who plans to venture into coaching, reflected on overcoming multiple injury setbacks to represent her country as the high points of her playing time.

“Probably just being able to bounce back from my injuries,” Masters said.

“I know some people counted me out eight years ago when I first tore my ACL and don’t even talk about the second, third and fourth and a reconstruction where I had to get my leg broken.

“So I would say coming back is the highlight. Also just the resilience and me being able to come back and then have the belief of my team-mates behind me. Confidence is a big piece and when I was at my lowest, my team had my back and my coach had my back.

“I want to coach, I don't want to step away from this group completely and I think that I bring enough value, humbly speaking.

“I want to help impact the next generation of females and look at the under-17s and what they just did in their last campaign.

“I want to stay within this sport and I know that I bring enough value to be able to help and bring these girls on.”

SCORERS

Costa Rica: Villalobos 5, Scott 8, 75 pen, Chinchilla 16, 87, Masters og 30, Alvarado 39, Blanco 70

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-3-3): S Crockwell—K Goodchild, V Davis, M Christian, K Dill—E Frazzoni (sub; D Watson, 84), Z Webb (sub: Jahni Simmons, 46min), K Brangman (sub: M Mobray, 46) — K Thompson, N Christopher (sub: M Butterfield, 84), J Masters (J Ratteray-Smith, 71). Substitutes not used: A Furbert, K Perinchief, Jahde Simmons, S Trott, J Peets-Butterfield, S Lowe-Darrell, S Fiesha. Booked: Mobray

Costa Rica (4-3-3): N Bermudez—G Guillen (sub: M Paula Arce, 46) S Blanco, V Del Campo, F Villalobos (sub: J Briceno, 46) — P Rodriguez (sub: E Flores, 73) K Alvarado (sub: E Valenciano, 46), A Gonzalez (sub: A Gilbertson, 67) — M Herrera, P Chinchilla, S Scott. Substitutes not used: G Perez, D Solera, M Benavides

Referee: A Billeter (United States).