Dominican Republic 1 Bermuda 0

Bermuda’s qualification bid for the Concacaf W Championships later this summer ended last night in Santo Domingo when the home team scored in the dying minutes through their captain Vanessa Kara.

Bermuda did well to keep the hosts off the scoresheet for most of the game as goalkeeper Zakhari Turner had an outstanding game behind her defence.

However, her safe hands could not keep out a well-struck free kick from Kara, who drove an effort from 20 yards into the far corner. Turner, diving to her left, got her fingers to the ball but could not keep it out.

The free kick was conceded by midfielder LeiLanni Nesbeth who moments earlier was involved in a collision and needed treatment from the medical staff before she was able to continue.

Kara was the Dominican Republic’s biggest attacking threat, hitting the post and putting two other chances over the bar in the first half as Bermuda dug deep defensively to keep them out with the teams playing virtually in an empty stadium.

Bermuda had an encouraging start, winning a corner in the first four minutes. Then, in the tenth minute the Dominican Republic goalkeeper, Odaliana Gonez, was caught out of her box in an attempt to clear the ball. The ball fell to Jya Ratteray-Smith who failed to put her effort on target from distance.

At the other end Kara volleyed over the bar from a good position inside the box. Another good chance fell to her in the 35th minute when Alyssa Oviedo crossed into the box where Lucia Marle back-heeled to Kara, who lifted a left-footed shot just over the top.

The striker went close with another effort in the 41st minute when her shot from 25 yards hit the base of the near post with Turner at full stretch to her left.

Certainly Dominican Republic created the better chances in the first half, having four shots on goal to Bermuda’s one. However, things looked more promising for Bermuda early in the second half as they started to play with more confidence, though lone striker Nia Christopher often lacked support.

The home side were denied again by the framework, this time Brianna Reed sidefooting against the crossbar following a corner on the right. At the other end Nesbeth crossed for K’Shaela Burch who put her effort over the crossbar.

Bermuda’s hopes of a late winner did not materialise as the home team scored the only goal of the game in the 87th minute to snatch a third straight win to remain top of the group. They play Jamaica next Tuesday, with Jamaica due to meet Cayman Islands today.

Bermuda will host Grenada at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Tuesday in their final group C match.

SCORER

Dominican Republic: Kara 87

TEAMS

Dominican Republic: O Gomez, G Dionicio, N Colon, W Peralta, J Oviedo, V Kara (capt), A Oviedo, L Marle, K Gonzalez, G Cuevas, B Reed.

Bermuda: Z Turner, V Davis, J Rempel, Z Webb, D Watson, E Frazzoni (capt), L Nesbeth, K Burch, J Ratteray-Smith, K Dill, N Christopher.