Barbados 0 Bermuda 0

(Barbados win 4-3 on penalties)

Bermuda suffered heartbreak after losing to Barbados on penalties in the Caribbean Football Union Boys Under-14 Challenge Series final in Trinidad & Tobago yesterday.

Deacon Wade, Solomon Salaam and Carter Thomas all converted from 12 yards while goalkeeper Xavier Thomas Bassett saved Adam King’s attempt to earn the Gombey Warriors an early 3-1 advantage in the shoot-out.

However, the game took a dramatic twist as Barbados dispatched their remaining penalties while Bermuda striker Jeon Wolfe had his effort saved and captain Z-Ani Jennings struck a post.

It was indeed a cruel turn of events for Vashun Blanchette’s team, who were left to rue several opportunities to have put the game away in regulation at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago where they also struck the woodwork.

“On reflection it was a game that we controlled for large portions but we were unable to find a goal that we probably deserved,” Blanchette told The Royal Gazette.

“With time, once we are able to reflect, I think we will come to the conclusion that we’ve had a good tournament and today was really just fine margins.

“I thought we created enough chances to win, but we couldn’t get the ball across the line today.

“I cannot fault the effort of the group, and they have much to be proud of over these past two weeks.

“We leave here with the Golden Boot, the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets and player of the tournament, so I think that speaks to how well we’ve done.

“We’ve scored the most goals [26] and conceded the least [1]. It just wasn’t to be today. That’s football; sometimes football can be very harsh.

“It’s a talented bunch and we’ll continue to work hard. We’ll put our heads down and prepare for next year’s Concacaf competition.”

It was the only loss of the tournament for the Gombey Warriors, who topped Tier II Group C with a perfect record, scoring 20 goals and conceding one. They also beat Anguilla 6-0 in the semi-finals to guarantee promotion to Tier I in the next edition of the championship.

Barbados applied early pressure but were let off the hook after Bermuda squandered a promising counter-attack.

Winger Zydon Lightbourne Furbert then had a shot inside of the area deflected while Wolfe intercepted a wayward goal kick but blazed his effort over the bar during a good spell of possession for the Gombey Warriors.

Bermuda squandered two more chances and also survived a scare of their own after an attempted clearance nearly went into their own net.

Barbados, who were also unbeaten during the group stage, were forced to make an unscheduled substitution after goalkeeper Shaquan King was taken off on a stretcher just before half-time with an ankle problem.

Both teams came out swinging at the start of the second half, with Bermuda playmaker Jennings and Amari Small striking the bar at opposite ends of the pitch. Barbados also had a shot cleared off the line.

Bermuda pressed on in search of the breakthrough with Thomas having a shot saved while Lightbourne Furbert’s inviting pass in the area and another threatening cross were not put away from close range.

Barbados also survived a goalmouth scramble before blowing a chance to snatch a late winner as they failed to capitalise on a breakaway.

Bermuda’s missed opportunities ultimately came back to haunt them as their opponents finally settled matters in the penalty shoot-out.

Wolfe secured the Golden Boot with ten goals, including two hat-tricks, midfielder Thomas was named player of the tournament, while goalkeeper Thomas Bassett had the most clean sheets.