<Bz71>Four-goal glut keeps Island's hopes alive
Needing nothing less than a win against the youthful Bahamians to at least guarantee themselves another shot at qualifying for January’s finals in Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda stung their opponents early and controlled the tempo of the match throughout.
Striker Khano Smith ignited a three-goal blitz inside 20 minutes when he put Bermuda ahead for good from the penalty spot after Domico Coddington’s shot was handled in the box.
And not once did they ever look back, as before the Bahamian defence could regroup they found themselves facing an even bigger uphill climb when John Barry Nusum rose unchallenged in the penalty area and powerfully headed home a Keith Jennings’ corner kick.
After 25 minutes the match, as a contest, was all but over when the lightning-swift Smith intercepted the ball deep in Bahamas’ territory, dribbled several yards and buried his shot to the left of the flat-footed ‘keeper.
It was a clinical display of finishing that completely deflated a Bahamas team that failed to earn a single corner or fire a shot on target.
Such was Bermuda’s dominance, ‘keeper Timmy Figureido probably never had it so easy before.
From the outset, Bermuda, who suffered a psychological blow when skipper Kentoine Jennings pulled a calf muscle before the match and was ruled out, took the proceedings by the scruff of the neck, particularly in midfield where Keith Jennings, Domico Coddington and Kwame Steede had things all their way.
Up front the pace of strikers Nusum and Smith was a constant threat, while the back four of Kevin Richards, Darius Cox, Stanton Lewis and Blenn Bean — one of two changes made to the team from last Sunday’s match, held firm like the rock of Gibraltar.
Richards’ penchant of overlapping down the flanks again provided the team with another attacking option, although on this particular night the Island’s marksmen led by example.
Determined to carry the match to their opponents, Smith got the ball rolling in the fifth minute when he showed his New England Revolution team-mates how to convert from the penalty spot.
With nerves of steel, the former Dandy Town striker drilled his effort to the left of an anchored Dwayne Whylly — who argued against the call in vain — in the Bahamian goal.
The goal came as a result of an excellent three-man build-up involving Coddington, Nusum and Steede deep inside Bahamas terrain.
Steede as usual touched every blade of grass with his drifting role in midfield and, along with Jennings, received a lot of personal attention from an at times over aggressive Bahamas team who wore their emotions on their sleeves.
Yet before the Caribbean team could regroup Bermuda struck again — this time via the clinical finishing of deputising team skipper Nusum.
Jennings’ inswinging corner — one of seven earned by Bermuda on the night — was powerfully met by the clean shaven head of the Philadelphia KiXX star striker who made no mistake from five yards.
And before the dust had settled Whylly was again picking the ball out of the net after an opportunistic Smith pounced on some sloppy defending, fired up the after burners and planted his firmly hit shot in at the far post to effectively put the match well out of the Bahamians’ reach.
With the crucial three points virtually in the bag, and their Digicel Cup hopes intact, Steede completed the rout in emphatic fashion with the best goal of the game two minutes before the end of regulation time.
Substitute Aljame Zuill did well to control a difficult pass down the line, beat his marker and found Steede in the middle who unleashed a wicked right-footed drive from outside the 18-yard box that flew into the top right-hand corner past a stranded Whylly.
Bermuda: T.Figureido, K.Richards, T.Burgess (J.Scott, 80 mins), B.Bean, S.Lewis, D.Cox (D.Zuill, 90 mins), K.Smith, D.Coddington, K.Steede, K.Jennings, J.Nusum (capt) (A.Zuill, 70 mins).
Yellow cards<$>: V.Bethell, H.Hall, J.Moseley, (Bahamas); K.Steede (Bermuda)
Men of the match<$>: K.Smith (Bermuda)
Referee: W.Minyette (Dominican Republic)
Match commissioner<$>: M.Victoire (Martinique)
