Bermuda 1 Trindad & Tobago 1

Bermuda produced a courageous fightback to salvage a hard-fought draw in their Concacaf Under-20 Championship opener at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa yesterday.

Kathon St Hillaire put Trinidad ahead with a calm finish after a defensive lapse. However, Bermuda’s never-say-die approach finally paid dividends when Oneko Lowe pounced on a poor clearance to earn Bermuda a point from their opening group C match.

With better fortune, Bermuda may have come away with all of the points.

Kacy-Milan Butterfield, the defensive midfielder, tested Trinidad goalkeeper Montel Joseph with a long-range shot, while Tehvan Tyrell, the striker, missed a great chance from close range after a good build-up between forwards Osagi Bascome and Lowe.

Knory Scott went agonisingly close with an audacious scissors kick from outside of the box that flashed past the upright.

Trinidad nearly regained the lead when Jabari Mitchell’s free kick struck the woodwork with Demetre Bell, the Bermuda goalkeeper, well beaten.

The hearts of the small group of travelling Bermuda fans were in their mouths again when Mitchell had another free kick soar just over the bar.

Bermuda took the match to their opponents straight from the kick off, Butterfield unleashing a shot from inside his own half that went just wide of Joseph’s goal.

Bermuda dominated the early exchanges with excellent ball movement and Tyrell should have opened the scoring.

Trinidad eventually took the momentum and during a period of sustained pressure went ahead after Bermuda’s defence switched off.

Nicholas Dillon, the Trinidad striker, was allowed to much space to roam deep in Bermuda’s half and his pass into open space between defenders Zenawi Bowen and David Jones was fired home by St Hillaire who took his chance well.

Kierron Mason and Dillon, who was recently signed by Belgium Second Division side K Patro Maasmechelen, both threatened to extend Trinidad’s lead as they continued to enjoy a good spell of dominance.

However, Bermuda nearly floored Trinidad with a sucker punch when Lowe fired over from an angle after being played through by Tyrell.

Trinidad held their edge over their opponents early in the second half with Bell making a series of saves to keep Bermuda in the match. Bell had to be at his best to deny substitute Josh Toussaint from close range to make amends for some risky play moments earlier.

Kyle Lightbourne, the Bermuda coach, brought Jaz Ratteray-Smith and Paul Douglas off the bench and it proved to be a masterstroke as the pair had a major say in the equaliser.

Douglas sent Ratteray-Smith on his way to goal with a pass from midfield. Striker Ratteray-Smith’s lob was parried by the goalkeeper and an attempted clearance by Shane Sandy, the Trinidad centre back, rebounded into the path of Lowe, who pounced to earn Bermuda a share of the spoils.

SCORERS

Bermuda

Lowe 70

Trinidad & Tobago

St Hillaire 23

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-5-1): D Bell – D Jones, Z Bowen (sub: P Douglas 51min), T Harris (sub: K Scott 80), M Thomas – K Butterfield, L Evans, O Lowe, O Bascome, J Swan – T Tyrell (sub: J Ratteray-Smith 66). Substitutes not used: J Hill, A Simons, A Lewis, J Furbert, M Burchall. Booked: Thomas.

Trinidad & Tobago (4-5-1): M Joseph – K Cupid, S Shandy, T Sampson, I Garcia – K Mason, J Mitchell, N Powder, M Lansiquot (sub: T Lucas-Walker 81), K St Hillaire – N Dillon (sub: J Toussaint 62). Substitutes not used: D Smith, S Bailey, M Bruce de Rouche, J Sitney, R Murphy, S Marcano, J Leach. Booked: Garcia

Referee: E Miranda (Mexico).