Bermuda 4 Barbados 2

Aaliyah Nolan continued her fine scoring form, grabbing a brace to guide Bermuda to victory over Barbados and help her side remain top of League B group C of the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers.

Nolan struck in each half at the Flora Duffy Stadium to make it three goals in two matches, before she limped off. Jaden Masters and Victoria Davis also got on the scoresheet.

Ashnee Thompson grabbed both of Barbados’ goals in the first half as the visitors threatened to stage a fightback after falling three goals behind in the opening 12 minutes.

Naquita Robinson’s side played the bulk of the second half with ten players after midfielder Khyla Brangman was sent off for a second bookable offence, shortly after the resumption.

Having already been booked at the end of the first period, Brangman made a rash challenge on Cheyanna Burnett Smith, leaving Mexican referee Katia Garcia no choice but to send her off.

Bermuda also lost captain Eva Frazzoni, who was withdrawn because of a concussion at the beginning of the second period.

“It feels fantastic to get back on the score sheet,’’ Nolan said.

“It’s been a long time since I played for the national team due to injury.

“However, I've come back fit enough to play, and it just feels great to be able to help my team out again.

“In the first 15 minutes we didn't shut off, we kept going. First three goals, it was fantastic, we started off sharp.

“Even after getting the red card, we didn't let that hinder our play, we kept pushing.

“We still had the opportunities to go forward, put our best foot forward on our home turf.

“We wanted to show Bermuda what we can do.”

Robinson is pushing to pick up the available six points in the last two matches and secure Gold Cup qualification.

“Two games to go, our fate is still in our hands,’’ she said.

“We have to win our last two matches, there’s no two ways about it.

“Dropping the two points on Friday [1-1 draw away to Barbados] made it a little tougher for ourselves because we need to get into final match still three points ahead, as opposed to one point ahead at that time.

“We’ll rely on Barbados to do the job for us when Dominican Republic come to them.”

Bermuda were quick off the blocks and raced into an early three-goal lead.

Masters capitalised on a moment of miscommunication among the Barbados defence to break the deadlock in the fifth minute, before Davis doubled the lead with a brilliantly executed free kick from outside the box in the tenth minute.

Nolan then added the third just two minutes later, fending off the challenge of three defenders to rifling an effort past goalkeeper Kamillah Burke.

Barbados rallied in the latter stages of the half, reducing the deficit in the 34th minute as Thompson beat Zakhari Turner from outside the area.

The midfielder grabbed her second of the night moments before the interval, bundling the ball in from close range to give her side hope of a comeback in the second half.

However, despite being reduced to ten after Brangman’s dismissal, Bermuda regained their two-goal lead in the 74th minute as Nolan beat the onrushing Burke to slot the ball for her second to ultimately seal all three points.

With two matches remaining, Bermuda remain a point ahead of the Dominican Republic at the top of the standings, following their rivals’ 4-0 drubbing of St Vincent.

SCORERS

Bermuda: Masters 6, Davis 10, Nolan 12, 74

Barbados: Thompson 34, 45+5

TEAMS

Bermuda (4-1-4-1): Z Turner 4 – K Goodchild 6, S Fisher 6, V Davis 7, T Fubler 7 – K Brangman 4 – E Frazzoni 6 (sub: K Dill 46 5), J Ratteray-Smith 5 (sub: K Burch 46 5) – S Lowe-Darrell 6 (sub: M Christian 86), J Masters 8 – A Nolan 9 (sub: J Simmons 74). Substitutes not used: D Brown, J Smith, K Nanette, K Hollis, J Rempel, A Furbert, J Samuels-Williams. Booked: Lowe-Darrell, Brangman. Sent off: Brangman.

Barbados (4-4-2): K Burke 5 – A Forde 6, K Johnson 6, T Maughn 6, S Hinds 6 – S Stevenson 6, A Thompson 7, R Cyrus 6, S Toppin-Herbert 5 (sub: T White 64 5) – T Bynoe 6 (sub: M Alleyne 64 5), C Burnett-Griffith 6 (sub: F Jarvis 82). Substitutes not used: R Holder, B Branker-White, E Atherley, D Whitehall, S Als, D Watson-James, K Catlyn. Booked: Johnson.

Referee: K García (Mexico).

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