Bermuda are now facing a “do-or-die” scenario in their final group match against Jamaica at the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, tomorrow.

Coach Cecoy Robinson’s team have found themselves in this predicament after suffering a 5-0 defeat against Mexico, the defending champions, at the IMG Soccer Stadium yesterday.

Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago have already advanced to the next round of the tournament, leaving winless Bermuda and Jamaica to battle it out to determine who will join them.

Jamaica are third on goal difference ahead of Bermuda going into the crucial clash.

“It’s a do-or-die clash and we are going to push for the victory,” Robinson said. “We have it all to play for. The players know it, and everyone is calm and relaxed. We improved from our first game and we will improve again from this one.”

Bermuda went into their match against Mexico looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat against Trinidad in their opener two days previously.

Robinson’s chargers played well in spurts, but were outgunned by a well-organised Mexican side, whose fluent passing, superior fitness and lethal finishing ultimately took its toll.

“The boys played with a lot of grit and desire,” Robinson said. “A lapse in concentration cost us early. We went down 2-0, but we stayed in the game and fought hard. The effort was there, but it was always going to be tough against Mexico and I thought the boys left it out on the pitch.”

Bermuda were forced to chase the game after conceding a soft goal from a set-piece.

Forward Efrain Álvarez controlled defender Jesús Gómez’s long free kick into the box before lobbing Bermuda goalkeeper Coleridge Fubler despite being surrounded by defenders.

Mexico continued to press and grabbed a second from another set-piece, midfielder Luis Carlos Martínez getting the final touch to Kevin Mariscal’s corner, which was played back across the goalmouth by Víctor Guzmán.

Bermuda enjoyed a good spell towards the end of the half and went agonisingly close when Jai Bean struck the post after the Mexicans were caught in possession deep in their own half. Ne-Jai Tucker then had an effort from outside the area saved by Mexico’s goalkeeper Arturo Delgado.

Bermuda were forced to make an unscheduled substitution in first-half stoppage time with Seke Spence replacing injured captain Jayden Ebbin.

Mexico made two substitutions during the break and came charging out of the gate at the start of the second half in search of more goals.

Mariscal had a shot from inside the area saved on the break while substitute Santiago Muñoz squandered two golden opportunities with only Fubler to beat.

Álvarez also wasted a good chance when he dragged Martínez’s pass in the box wide while Gómez’s shot also from inside of the area was blocked by a defender. Mexico’s relentless pressure finally told when forward Muñoz headed home midfielder Bruce El Mesmari’s cross at the back post.

Fubler pulled off back-to-back reflex saves to thwart Muñoz as the Mexicans threatened to open the floodgates.

Substitute Israel Luna added his name onto the scoresheet when he tapped in a cross before Mariscal made no mistake from close range after Fubler parried Martínez’s shot into his path.

Substitute Diione Millett had Bermuda’s only attempt on goal in the second half, a low angled shot from inside of the box which Delgado comfortably smothered to maintain a clean sheet.