Bermuda eager to preserve home record
Khano Smith has challenged Bermuda to finish their World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten at home ahead of today’s final group game against Barbados.Bermuda will look to complete a clean sweep over Barbados at the National Sports Centre tonight having beaten the Bajan Tridents 2-1 in Friday’s qualifiers.Although neither team can qualify from the group, skipper Smith has reminded his team-mates how important another victory could be in terms of the country’s FIFA World Ranking.The Island was the biggest movers in the global ranking ladder last month, jumping up 57 places in the competitive pecking order from 189 to 132.“Obviously with how things have played out it is a nothing game but a win will put is in a good position ranking wise for the Digicel Caribbean Cup,” said Smith, who scored a penalty in Friday’s victory.“The next game is a must win game, regardless of the circumstances we have to show that Bermuda is a fortress and that people can’t take us lightly.”Smith believes Bermuda’s midfield engine room provided an important platform for the team to launch their attacks on Friday, although he has called for more clinical edge in front of goal.“We have a great midfield with the likes of Taurean, Sammy and Kwame so it’s just a matter of getting them the ball to make things work going forward,” said Smith.“It’s important to have a midfield like this as Bermuda doesn’t usually possess a real holding midfielder like Taurean and he’s a huge bonus to us with his work ethic and never-say-die-attitude.“We missed a lot chances (on Friday), we should have won by a more comfortable margin and the next match we need to take advantage of their mistakes and put our chances away.”Bermuda could still finish second in Group B ahead of Trinidad whose chances of reaching the next stage of the qualifiers came crashing down after losing to Guyana 2-1 in Georgetown on Friday.Devarr Boyles’ side have seven points, two behind Trinidad, who take on Guyana in Port of Spain today.Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden said: “If we beat Barbados and Guyana beat Trinidad on Tuesday night then we can finish second in the group.“That would be a very credible performance by Bermuda in this group round although we don’t advance. We still would’ve finished second in the group and that would assist as we move onto the Digicel Caribbean Cup, so we want to encourage all of Bermuda to come out and support the team.”Tonight’s kick off at the NSC is 8pm.
