Bermuda will be keen to get their Concacaf Under-20 Championship qualifying bid on track when they take on Cayman Island in San Juan, Puerto Rico today.

Ray Jones’s team are facing an uphill struggle having suffered a 3-2 defeat against Barbados in their group D opener at the Juan Ramón Lubriel Stadium on Wednesday.

Luciano Swan netted both of Bermuda’s goals while Barbados replied through a Thierry Gale brace and another from Nigel Griffith.

The result leaves Bermuda with no margin for error, needing to claim maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Cayman and Puerto Rico on Sunday, as well as relying on other results to go their way to keep their qualifying hopes alive.

Jones has been forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for Bermuda’s match today as Malachi Trott is serving a one-game suspension, having been sent off against Barbados after picking up two yellow cards.

Rayquon Woodley-Smith, who went off injured after a harsh tackle by an opponent, is doubtful.

Cayman are also coming off a loss, going down 4-2 in their group opener against the host nation and will also be looking to get their own qualifying bid back on course.

Bermuda are looking to qualify for the Concacaf Under-20 Championship for the third straight time, having featured in the previous two tournaments held in Costa Rica and the United States in 2017 and 2018.

The island finished bottom of group E with one point after a goalless draw against Barbados at IMG Soccer Complex Field in Bradenton, Florida, in their previous appearance at the championship.

Bermuda have an overall record at the championship of nine wins, four draws and nine defeats.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico will do battle with Barbados in today’s remaining group D match at the Juan Ramón Lubriel Stadium, where both teams will be looking to secure maximum points to inch closer to securing their spot at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship this summer.

The eventual winner of group D will advance along with the winners of the remaining three first-round qualifying groups to the second-round group stage, featuring five-times Concacaf Under-20 champions Mexico.

The top three nations from each of the four groups during the second round group stage will then advance to the main tournament, which will take place from June 20 to July 5 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The Concacaf Under-20 Championship is a single match elimination format, with the semi-finalists qualifying to the Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia next year.