Bermuda held to a draw in Concacaf Nations League opener
Bermuda 0 French Guiana 0
Bermuda was forced to settle for a share of the spoils after being held to a goalless draw by French Guiana in their opening Concacaf Nations League group match at Flora Duffy Stadium yesterday.
Both teams created opportunities during an evenly fought contest with Bermuda having a goal disallowed in the second minute of the match.
Substitute Reggie Lambe also had a strong appeal for a penalty fall on deaf ears after going down in the area as goalkeeper Donovan Leon attempted to gather the ball off his feet.
The experienced midfielder then went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when his shot from inside the box was plucked from the air by an alert Leon.
Both teams pressed on for the winner coming down the home stretch but were unable to capitalise on some good possession in the attacking third and ultimately had to be content with a draw that was perhaps no more than they deserved given neither really dominated proceedings.
After all was said and done on the pitch, Bermuda captain Dale Eve was satisfied with the outcome and to have also kept a clean sheet.
“Always happy to come away with a point and a clean sheet, with a new manager, new set up and new roles,” he told The Royal Gazette.
“We are just trying to get gelling together. We have a lot more younger players involved, we brought back a few veterans that have sat down before. Now they have to take the reigns and I think over the next couple of weeks or months we will grow.”
The Alvechurch custodian felt his side could have come away from the League B group C encounter with maximum points.
“We definitely should have won this game,” he added. “It wasn’t our day to win and was definitely not our day to lose.
“I am just happy we come away with a clean sheet which is a positive to go into the next one.”
Among the fresher faces in Bermuda’s youthful squad that rose to the occasion was defenders Harry Twite and Daniel Cook while striker Jai Bean was a constant threat up top with his movement and pace.
“I think we have a very new strike force, a very new tactical style of play and I think over time we will definitely get better,” Eve said.
“We’re definitely not used to holding out at home. This is the second clean sheet at home in a row so I think we’re definitely going further and doing more.”
Opposing captain Ludovic Baal was equally pleased with his team’s display and the outcome achieved on foreign turf.
“I am happy for my team because my team played good football,” he said.
“I wanted to win but I am happy with the point because the group is difficult. You have Bermuda, Belize and St Vincent & the Grenadines which are three good teams so I am happy for the score.”
With a crowd of 792 spectators on hand to witness new Bermuda head coach Michael Findlay’s first match in charge, the hosts went straight for the jugular and had the ball in the back of the net less than two minutes after the kick-off.
Defender Reece Jones Jr whipped in a cross from the left side which midfielder Milan Butterfield tapped in from close range.
However, Bermuda’s celebrations were quickly muted as referee Jefferson Escobar, of Honduras, awarded a free kick going out as Butterfield was judged to have fouled the goalkeeper in the process.
After weathering some early pressure, French Guiana began stringing passes together and creating openings in Bermuda’s back four.
The visitors had a penalty appeal for a handball denied while captain Ball curled a shot just over during a good spell of possession.
Bermuda nearly caught their opponents on the break when forward Kane Crichlow fired his shot just over the bar after exchanging passes with the lively Zeiko Lewis who also wreaked havoc with his precision passing and wizardry on the ball.
The visitors threatened again when a free kick deep in Bermuda’s half went untouched across the face of goal.
French Guiana coach Jean-Claude Ducan Darcheville was forced to make two unscheduled changes after defender Thervilus Ericsson and captain Baal went off injured.
Bermuda defender Danté Leverock also required treatment after taking a blow to the face but was able to continue.
Bermuda finished the half strongly with Leon parrying forward Luke Robinson’s dangerous low cross before rushing off his line to gather a loose ball in the area as Bean moved in for the kill.
The hosts also started the second half on a promising note with Lewis curling a free kick from outside of the box inches wide of the near post.
At the other end French Guiana’s Loïc Baal had a dangerous cross go untouched across the face of goal while fellow midfielder blasted over after a good build-up down the middle.
Lambe went down attempting to wriggle past Leon on the left side of the box and was then brilliantly denied by goalkeeper after being played through by Jones’s delightful pass.
The visitors threatened again in the closing minutes but Twite was equal to the task as he timed his tackle in the area well to block substitute Warren Rino’s path to goal.
Findlay’s team will now look to gain more momentum in their next group match away to St Vincent & the Grenadines on Tuesday.
Dale Eve (Goalkeeper): Not his most notable appearance, however it did not have to be, as he was largely untroubled by an ineffective opposing attack. He did have to be rescued by Danté Leverock at the near post on one occasion, following a left-wing corner in first half. Spent more energy pointing and vocalising in his direction of attack. 6
Daniel Cook (left back): Quietly effective in his ability to lend to both the attack and defence. His ability to change roles with Luke Robinson and Kane Crichlow served to confuse markers on more than one occasion. 7
Reese Jones (right back): Caused great excitement in the first minute when he produced cross from left side that almost led to a goal. Later found Reggie Lamb in space on left side of penalty area, which produced the best chance of the night for Bermuda. 6
Danté Leverock (centre back): After his status among the squad was questioned following a disappointing outing against Guyana, Leverock turned back the clock against French Guiana. He was fit, stout and clearly the team’s leader, marshalling the middle of defence and using his physicality to great effect. 8
Harry Twite (centre back): After some nervous early moments Twite regained his normal confidence and produced solid defending, forming a good partnership in the middle of defence alongside Leverock. Was capable while on the ball, playing out of the back and got better as match progressed. 6
Roger Lee (defensive midfield): Largely invisible for much of first half, but only because he followed orders and gave up possession to the more creative team-mates. Got a knock late in the first half, which temporarily hobbled Lee, yet he remained a steadying force in the middle. 6
Milan Butterfield (centre midfield): Put ball in the back of the net in the first minute of play, only to have the goal disallowed for his infringement with the goalkeeper. Was busy all over the midfield, but particularly the right side. 6
Kane Crichlow (centre midfield): Crichlow was pure trouble with his pace, guile and dribbling skills. The most attack-minded of the three in central midfield. Played freely and was unfortunate in having to watch his shot just miss the target after well worked move. 6
Luke Robinson (attacking midfield): A defined threat down the left side for the entirety of the first half, while linking with Bean and Crichlow. Not so adept defending his position and performance tailed off in the second half, resulted in his being replaced by Reggie Lamb. 6
Zeiko Lewis (attacking midfield): Lewis was a situational threat for much of the match, choosing his moments to make bursts at French Guiana’s defence. Was a part of the first half’s most decisive attacking moves, receiving defence-splitting pass from Bean on right and further exposing the same with a pass into the path of Crichlow for a 22-yard, curling blast went inches over the crossbar. 6
Jai Bean (striker): Even without scoring Bean was the star of the show, his energy up front infectious and stirring the crowd. Great energy on and off the ball, with a willingness to retreat in order to gain possession and restart attacks. Combined well with Crichlow in particular to create gaps in French Guiana defence. 8
Substitute
Reggie Lambe (midfield): The ‘old man’ of the crew started on the bench, but made sure that his wait was not in vain, as he produced was part of, perhaps, the best chance of the day to score, when Jones found him in space inside the area. Lambe would have loved to have seen his low, curling effort that looked destined for the left corner shake the rafters, but Leon’s save was equally impressive. 5
Late substitutions: Denich Hill for Crichlow (79), Lejuan Simmons for Lewis (79), Remy Coddington for Bean (88).
Substitutes not used: D Bell, Q Hunt, J Commissiong, Na-Jai Tucker, L Evans, K Scott, K Hall, A Todd. Booked: Lee.
Michael Findlay (Bermuda coach)
Bermuda’s new coach Michael Findlay’s initial outing in charge of the senior men’s team was solid, not spectacular, offering promise for the future.
Having filled out the line up with youthful, emerging talent there were periods, particularly in the first half, where inexperienced showed.
However, after early teething issues, the team settled in and produced some exciting moments for the fans and danger for the opposition.
Somewhat surprising was Findlay’s use of a complex 4-3-2-1 formation, headed by Jai Bean and anchored by Donte Leverock.
Unlike his last appearance against Guyana, when he was yet used despite his being vastly out of sorts, this time saw Leverock’s fitness and ability matching his experience, as he once again showed himself as a giant for Bermuda.
Findlay expertly utilised a compact shape with a solid spine that proved extremely tough for the opposition to break down.
The formation is known to work best for possession-based teams that take a slow and methodical approach to their build-up play and such appeared the strategy of the coach, securing his defence and encouraging occasional attacking bursts from midfield, where Milan Butterfield and Kane Crichlow roamed and were able to link well with Bean and Zeiko Lewis.
The coach awarded a compact midfield creative freedom in attack, as long as they got back when out of possession, taking advantage of youthful energy on offer.
Scoring opportunities were not in great abundance but the coach and players’ intentions were clear.
The usual flaw in the system is the distinct lack of width, with the only recognised wide players normally being the fullbacks, but again the interchangeability of the group saw continual cover being provided for overlapping fullbacks.
Good timing in use of Reggie Lamb as first substitute almost secured a victory, but insertion of Deniche Hill and others were a tad late to give reward. 7
French Guiana (4-4-2): D Leon 8 – S Youssou 7, T Ericsson 6 (sub: U Souza, 32min 7), Z Charlec 7, M Colino 7 – Ludovic Baal 6 (sub: M Haabo, 28 7), M Gourpil 7 (sub: D Florentine, 79) J Benice 7, Loïc Baal 7 (sub: W Rino, 79) – J Sarucco 7 (sub: J Haabo, 79), Y Nozile 7. Substitutes not used: M Bulsan, A Clet. Booked: Youssou, Souza.
Referee: J Escobar (Honduras).
• Ratings by Patrick Bean
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