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Bermuda U-15s beat Aruba to top group

Bermuda 3 Aruba 1Bermuda defeated Aruba to extend their unbeaten streak and soar to the top of Group A at the CONCACAF Under-15 Championships in the Cayman Islands on Sunday.A Jai-zel Smith DeShields brace and another strike from Amar Lewis powered Bermuda to their fourth straight win at the inaugural tournament.Bermuda, who were without the injured Llineko Millet and suspended Oneko Lowe, conceded their first goal of the tournament when Ryan Illes pulled one back for Aruba after the defence failed to clear their lines.Bermuda took the lead for good in the seventh minute when Lewis nodded in Jecoa Thomas’ cross from a set piece started by Osagi Bascome.DeShields extended the lead three minutes later when he chipped the advancing ‘keeper after being put through behind the Aruba defence by Aaron Burgess to earn Bermuda a 2-0 cushion at the half.DeShields grabbed his second goal of the match early in the second half, tapping in Ahria Simons’ pullback across the goalmouth to further extend Bermuda’s lead before Illes scored Aruba’s consolation minutes later with a volley at the far post.Both teams created further chances to score during the final 15 minutes of the match.Bermuda ‘keeper Yanai Smith-Davis was forced to make two good saves to protect his team’s lead while at the other end of the pitch substitutes Judah Chapman and Knory Scott and Jason Symonds all came close to extending their team’s lead.Bermuda currently top Group A by three points over second-placed Aruba and only need to take a point off bottom team St Maarten in their final group match tomorrow to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.Only the group winners will advance to the last four.Commenting on the team’s success to this point, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) Youth Director Richard Todd said: “We are happy with the team’s performances in the competition.“These are exciting times for the young players that are overseas. They are currently on top of their group and looking to advance to the knockout stage, which says a lot about the potential of the side.”Bermuda: Yanai Smith-Davis, Ahria Simons, Jordan Lambe, Amar Lewis, Vance Wall-Brown, Jason Symonds, Jai-zel Smith-Deshields (Judah Chapman), Aaron Burgess, Jecoa Thomas, Osagi Bascome, Justin Bell (Knory Scott).