Barbados end winless as Bermuda triumph
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Bermuda repeated the 2-1 scoreline when they beat Barbados in the second leg of their CONCACAF Group B World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Centre on Monday night.
Barbados, who scored first in Friday night’s defeat at the same venue, netted a consolation goal in the dying seconds of Monday’s match after Bermuda earlier scored twice in the second half.
It was only Barbados’ second goal in six games as they ended the qualifying campaign with a miserable winless record.
In Group D, St Lucia plunged to their fifth loss when they were hammered 3-0 away to Puerto Rico while Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic drew 1-1 in Group A in Georgetown.
The remaining games of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers were played off yesterday.
Bermuda, meanwhile, posted their third win and second in succession when they easily brushed aside the Barbadians.
Nahki Wells, whose 30-yard wonder goal helped his English League Two club Bradford City advance to the second round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Rochdale on Saturday, struck first with another long-range shot while on a whirlwind 48-hour visit to his homeland after flying in on Sunday night.
Wells, 21, broke the deadlock less than a minute into the second half, rifling home a 30-yard shot past goalkeeper Bentley Springer.
Bermuda doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when skipper Khano Smith scored from the penalty spot after substitute Antwan Russell was brought down by Springer inside the area.
Springer took over the goalkeeping duties from Jason Boxill, who was sent off in the first half of Friday’s match after he brought down Damon Ming inside the box.
Barbados, who opted to play both legs in Bermuda to save costs, pulled a goal back in stoppage time.
Carl Joseph’s free kick from the edge of the area struck a post and Sheridan Grosvenor was on hand to force home the rebound.
The defeat left Barbados without a point in Group B, headed by Guyana.
Bermuda finished with three victories, having also beaten Trinidad and Tobago here.