Bermuda 0 Guatemala 0

Chances were few and far between as a new-look Bermuda side played out a scoreless draw with Guatemala in their friendly match at the National Stadium last night.

Coach Kyle Lightbourne made eight changes from the team that lost 5-1 to Mexico five days ago, captain Danté Leverock one of those on the substitutes’ bench as Tre Ming, the PHC midfielder, wore the captain’s armband in his return to the team.

Also coming in were Cecoy Robinson, Calon Minors, Chikosi Basden, Roger Lee, Paul Douglas, Liam Evans and Justin Donawa, who was the lone striker and playing in place of Nahki Wells who has returned to Queens Park Rangers.

The size of the crowd was 1,105, compared with 4,003 for the Mexico game, as the eastern section of the ground remained closed and the crowd largely quiet as Bermuda gave them little to shout about.

There was an early sign that things might be different when Bermuda created a chance in the first minute. Ming sent a long ball forward for Donawa inside the box, but the forward lifted his lob over the bar as he tried to put it over goalkeeper Nicolas Haggen.

Guatemala had the better chances in the first half as they looked more threatening in the opening 25 minutes, but often lacked threat in and around the Bermuda box.

They had a good chance in the 28th minute when a foul by Jaylon Bather, the only defender retained from the Mexico starting line-up, committed a free kick on the right side of the box, which earned him the game’s first booking. From the free kick from Luis Martinez the unmarked Gerardo Gordillo put his header well wide of the far post.

Just before the half, Douglas was robbed of the ball by Rodrigo Saravia before Martinez had his shot from close range deflected for a corner.

From Martinez’s corner on the left, Yanes’s header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Dale Eve, his first real save of the match.

Bermuda played with more purpose in the second half, going close just two minutes after the restart when a good ball from the left by full back Minors went untouched across the six-yard box.

Both teams began making changes after that, Bermuda making a double substitution after Douglas drove an effort past the far post, with Osagi Bascome and Lejaun Simmons replacing Douglas and Robinson.

Guatemala’s Wilson Pineda had a good chance to break the deadlock when he ran unchecked into the box, but his header was comfortably saved by Eve. The visiting side had another good chance eight minutes from the end when Jorge Vargas ran through the middle before Eve quickly came out of his box to make a timely challenge.

Guatemala made five substitutions and Bermuda six, with substitute Simmons limping off late on and being replaced by Keishon Bean.

Bermuda had five players booked, with Eve being cautioned in injury time for dissent after running out of his box to get involved in an incident.

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-5-1): D Eve — C Basden (sub: D Usher, 76min), J Bather, L Evans, C Minors — R Lee, P Douglas (sub: O Bascome, 63), W Clemons (sub: K Scott, 82), C Robinson (sub: L Simmons, 63) (sub: K Bean, 90+3), T Ming (sub: D Richardson, 74) — J Donawa. Substitutes not used: D Brangman, J Hill, M Butterfield, D Leverock, Q Hunt. Booked: Bather, Ming, Douglas, Richardson, Eve.

Guatemala (4-3-3): N Haggen — J Pinto, C Gallardo, G Gordillo, A Yanes (sub: L De Leon, 76) — R Saravia, J Aparicio (sub: A Galindo, 65), L Martinez (sub: M Ceballos, 60) — E Guerra (sub: W Perez, 57), W Pineda, J Vargas (sub: V Matta, 86). Substitutes not used: E Santeliz, R Jerez, L Moran, V Guay Booked: Pinto.

Referee: T Unikel (United States).