Bermuda 1 Puerto Rico 2

Bermuda’s hopes of finishing top of their group at the Concacaf Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers were dashed in the cruellest way when they conceded a stoppage-time goal to Puerto Rico.

With the group A contest guaranteeing the winner top spot and the chance to progress to the next stage after both times had won their first two matches in the competition, a last-gasp goal by Puerto Rico substitute Mia Colón earned Puerto Rico victory over a heartbroken Bermuda.

Defeat left Bermuda waiting on the final set of matches to be completed on Saturday to see if they qualify as one of the two best second-placed teams but that looks unlikely as they sit in fourth.

In the deciding match, Colon’s outstretched leg got the ball past a resolute Taya Rodrigues, whose brilliant goalkeeping had denied Puerto Rico on a number of occasions in the match.

With Bermuda needing to avoid defeat to qualify, Evans Welch’s magnificent strike in the 59th minute returned Gary Adams’s side on top of group A. This was after Gabriella Garnett had given the home team the lead in the 33rd minute.

Welch’s goal, assisted by Keyandae Lightbourne, came after a great tackle by Janiya Sealey denied Jaeda Russell a clear shot at goal.

An injured Sealey was later taken off hurt, replaced in the 75th minute by Nila Samuels.

Russell had her effort blocked by Rodrigues in the 64th minute. The Bermuda goalkeeper was called into action again a few minutes before the end to make a number of saves.

With Bermuda seconds away from winning the group, Samuels was adjudged to have fouled Camila Adame. Garnett floated the ball into the box and Colón was allowed to squeeze the ball through.

SCORERS

Bermuda: Welch 59

Puerto Rico: Garnett 33, Colón 90+5

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-3-3): T Rodrigues – J Peets-Butterfield, A Simons (sub: T Glasgow, 30), A Burrows, Z Showers – N Welch (sub: C Dowling, 75), J Sealey (sub: N Samuels, 75), K Lightbourne – A Patton, M Gibbons-Thomas, D Outerbridge. Substitutes not used: S Baisden-Scott, N Minors, S Trott, J Trott, A Barry, K Curling, P Denbrook.

Puerto Rico (4-2-3-1): C Marin – Z Kern, P Foye, S O’Neill, C Ferraiuoli – C Adame, D Acevedo – Z Melia (sub: M Colón, 77), A Torres-Rava, J Russell (sub: S Centeno, 84) – G Garnett. Substitutes not used: A Vega, V Moore, M Poidomani, V Flores, C Smith, A Cabrera, I Todaro, L France.

Referee: X Ruiz (Mexico).