Future Pro Academy took advantage of some individual mistakes to claim the tenth annual Bermuda Triangle Cup by beating the Bermuda Under-17 national team 3-1 at Flora Duffy Stadium yesterday.

Bermudian Harlem Bean-Fox scored a hat-trick for Future Pro with Stephen Astwood scoring a consolation goal for Bermuda Under 17.

Demir Vavan, director of the UK-based Future Pro Academy, was pleased with the performance of his team.

“We knew we were in for a test,” Vavan said. “We came out strong early with the two goals and defended well. The Bermuda team have some quality players,. They played some nice through balls and had a few shots on target.”

The final started in cagey fashion, with the majority of threat in transitional moments. Future Pro had the heaviest share of early possession and they were exhibiting faster tempo and purpose.

Bermuda had the outlets of Kaiyuri Albuoy and Zydon Lightbourne-Furbert off the wings, but they struggled with their end product when found in dangerous positions. The home team lacked tempo and conviction on the ball but looked a threat whenever they picked up their pace.

Future Pro opened the scoring midway through the first half when PHC Zebras winger Harlem Bean-Fox was afforded far too much space in the final third. He drove inside from the left and struck a powerful low shot that took a heavy deflection off defender Amir Weller past goalkeeper Nuri Latham.

Bermuda created their best attacking opportunity of the first half within two minutes of going behind. Somerset Trojans midfielder Deacon Wade fed into the right channel for Lightbourne-Furbert, who crossed to the back post. Stephen Astwood connected well with his acrobatic effort, but directed it just wide of the far post.

Bean-Fox continued to be a thorn in the Bermuda defence and won a penalty less than three minutes into the second half after showing quick feet to get to the goalline before being taken down by full back Nylori Dill. He picked himself up and converted the spot kick underneath the dive of Latham.

Less than five minutes later, the result was virtually confirmed in bizarre circumstances. A Future Pro player took a heavy fall from a fair challenge by Wade and was quickly treated, in which time the Bermuda team tried to grab a drink.

Before they could get back on the field, Future Pro had taken the resulting throw in and Bean-Fox finished into an empty net. Tournament founder Dennis Brown described the lapse of concentration as “a learning moment” for the local team.

Bermuda had their most decisive moment a few minutes before the end when Wade curled a beautiful ball into the six-yard box and Astwood side-footed past Future Pro shot stopper Curtis Jackson Jr.

Bermuda youth assistant coach Scott Wade was pleased with their tournament.

“Our objective this event was to build in preparation for World Cup qualifiers,” Wade stated. “We are disappointed not to end with the trophy but I see things to build upon.

“We lost the final through individual mistakes and we must fix them before February.”

Tournament founder Dennis Brown was delighted with how the tournament had gone.

“It was a resounding success,” Brown said. “What we’re trying to do is not about wins but about development and learning. It’s about adapting to different cultures and conditions. Its not about losing, it’s about learning.”

Bermuda football icon Clyde Best was complimentary of the diversity in the Bermuda Triangle Cup.

“Local players get valuable experience by facing foreign opposition,” Best said. “It’s more about development than results.”

Travelling team Sao Miguel clinched bronze after thrashing Dandy Town 7-0 earlier in the day. Sao Miguel forward Santiago Garcia was the tournament’s top scorer with six goals across the week.

Town keeper Quincy Ratteray was awarded the Golden Glove for his passion between the sticks, while Future Pro midfielder Aaron Fregjaj was most valuable player.