Bermuda open up with fine win

Bermuda secured three points in their opening Group B match of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-17 competition, with an exciting 3-1 victory over the Dominican Republic.

Playing at the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Haiti, Bermuda seemed to be cruising towards an easy win as they went into the break leading 2-0.

However, an early second-half goal from the Dominican Republic changed the match, and it took the full attention of their players for Bermuda to complete the win.

Bermuda’s Eva Frazzoni opened the scoring in the 20th minute, the benefactor of a fortuitous bounce after Dominican goalie Yelandy Vasquez saved the initial shot from Aaliyah Nolan. However, the rebound fell into the path of Frazzoni who hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

Four minutes later Zahra Gibbons made it 2-0 as she displayed a brilliant solo run down the right flank into the 18-yard box, evading her markers before slotting past Vasquez.

The second half began at an even pace as the Dominican Republic striker Winibian Peralta tried her best to penetrate the offside trap set by the Bermudians without success.

It was her strike partner Ana Taveras who broke through for Dominican Republic as she scored from a lovely cross just in front of goal from Dayanara Martinez in the 59th minute.

This strike inspired the Dominican Republic to pick up the pace and search for an equalizer.

However, it was not to be as Leah Smith played the ball inside to Deshae Darrell in the 90th minute to seal the victory and secure the all-important three points for Bermuda.

The Dominican Republic team will look to rebound against Grenada in their next match on Monday, September 23 at 4pm, while Bermuda will face Trinidad and Tobago later that day at 6:30pm.