Bermuda were dealt a blow in their Caribbean Cup second-round tie away to French Guiana yesterday when the match was called off in the 41st minute with the islanders leading 1-0.

A goal from midfielder Damon Ming shocked the home side in the eleventh minute after Reggie Lambe, the Bermuda captain, laid the ball back for his team-mate to finish.

French Guiana went close when an overhead effort from Sloan Privat hit the post in the eighteenth minute.

Heavy rain saturated the pitch midway through the first half before Privat had another good chance to equalise in the 35th minute but failed to convert.

Referee Kimbell Ward finally stopped the match four minutes before the break. Maurice Victoire, the match commissioner, then officially abandoned the match, deeming the pitch unplayable.

Mark Wade, the Bermuda Football Association vice-president, who was following the game from Bermuda, said it was disappointing for the game to be called off with the islanders leading.

“The team leaves tomorrow [today], overnight in Miami and are due back in Bermuda on Friday,” Wade said. “With the way the tournament is designed, structured and the travel between matches, it was always going to be a problem.

“We expressed concerns about the design of the tournament. French Guiana had the same problem when they played against us [in the first round], arriving the day before the match.

“Several countries have communicated to the Caribbean Football Union that the format for the tournament is not conducive.

“A number of teams have had to land in a country and play the next day. The normal protocol is two days.”

Wade admitted a victory against French Guiana would have been a massive result for Bermuda, who were coached by Kyle Lightbourne in the absence of Andrew Bascome, who was forced to stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his son Drewonde Bascome, the Bermuda midfielder, who were both stricken with a virus.

“To get a goal away from home in not so good conditions after raining all day, I’m definitely proud of the boys for adjusting,” Wade said.

“It definitely shows what we’re capable of and it gives us something to look forward to playing at home on the fast surface at the National Stadium.”

Larry Mussenden, the BFA president, said he would be “checking with the Caribbean Football Union as soon as possible for a way forward”.

The second round of the competition features five groups, with the winners and four best runners-up advancing to the third round to be held from October 3 to 9.

Bermuda play their final group four game at home to Dominican Republic on Saturday at 9pm.

Bermuda (4-3-3) D Eve — Q Lema, K Elkinson, J Bather, D Leverock — R Lee, R Lambe, D Ming — W Clemons, J Smith, Z Lewis. Substitutes not used: J Hill, S Smith, J Furbert, J Pace, R Simons, J Salaam, K Butterfield