BFA to consider protest.
By Colin Thompson.
Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Larry Mussenden has not ruled out the possibility of taking some form of protest against Trinidad and Tobago's controversial 3-2 aggregate World Cup qualifying win over Bermuda earlier this week.
The Soca Warriors defeated Bermuda 2-0 at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on Sunday with striker Stern John's disputed goal proving decisive in the end.
Bermuda's defence were caught off guard when John struck mid-way through the second half while team officials were in the process of making a substitution.
And to add insult to injury, Trinidad skipper Aurtis Whitley was allowed to play on despite being booked twice by referee Carlos Batres.
Batres' actions are now the subject of a BFA probe which could lead to an appeal being lodged against the outcome of the second leg World Cup qualifier played on local soil.
"We have to check all the video footage. I have asked Derek (BFA technical director Derek Broadley) to lead on that. I am checking on the laws," BFA president Mussenden wrote in an email.
"Once we have any evidence then we together can determine the best way forward. And on an urgent basis."
Sports Minister El James, added: "The BFA must decide the right course of action to take and currently steps are being taken to make sure that it was a correct call under the laws of the game.
"There is video of the match, which is going to be analised, and if need be the BFA will take action accordingly."
Guatemalan ref Batres was given a police escort out of the grounds following Sunday's debacle after being subjected to heavy verbal abuse and objects being thrown at him as he made his way to the dressing room under a blanket of security personnel.
And his failure to eject Trinidad skipper Whitley after the player had received a second yellow card evoked memories of a 2006 World Cup Group F match between Croatia and Australia in which Croatian player Josip Simunic was allowed to remain on the pitch despite being booked twice.
The controversial World Cup group match ended in a –2-2 stalemate which enabled the Aussies to advance in the competition.
The incident, however, prompted Fifa president Sepp Blatter to comment: "Had Australia lost the game and gone out of the World Cup, they would have had grounds to request a replay."
It now remains to be seen what course, if any, the BFA take over an issue that has left the local family of football in a total state of shock.
"The referee (Batres) had stopped play and should have restarted it with a whistle, but there was no whistle and he allows the goal," Bermuda coach Kenny Thompson argued following his team's World Cup exit.
"Jemeiko (Jennings) wasn't even on the pitch. He was on the touchline when the Trinidad player took the free kick.
"I've not seen anything like the goal they scored to win the tie.
"It's difficult to accept because it had a major influence in getting Trinidad out of jail."
Trinidad's goal also proved to be a bitter pill for former senior national coach Kyle Lightbourne to swallow.
"I have never seen anything like that before," he said. "I think they got it wrong."
Bermuda football's facing bright future.
By Derek deChabert.
With World Cup hopes dashed, Bermuda must now focus on the future and what is next for the Island's national team.
The best of Bermuda's past players and executives, along with thousands of fans were on hand on Sunday night to witness the spectacle that is World Cup Qualifying at the National Sports Centre (NSC).
Fans descended upon the NSC to cheer on their beloved national team in an atmosphere never seen before on the Island's shores, waving the country's flags and even wearing the Bermuda jerseys to show their loyalty.
The loss to the much-fancied opponents wasn't a bad sign of what Bermuda is capable of. It was the manner in which the defeat occurred.
Controversial to say the least, some fans felt the team could have been more positive in their approach to the game and put Bermuda's natural style of play on display for all to see.
"The atmosphere in the arena was unbelievable", said former Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Donald Dane. "The fans gave the side a wonderful reception.
"I was present at the match in Trinidad, and we did what was required there.
"At times we were playing too defensive instead of playing our game.
"Whenever we had more then one player supporting our lone striker we caused them all sorts of problems.
"But this happened very seldom.
"The goals they scored weren't good goals, but they were mistakes on our part.
"We could have beaten them if we would have played attacking football and moved our defense up a bit more.
"Going forward now we have to be upbeat and positive as we have come a long way in the last few months."
With the excitement and fanfare of the World Cup experience now gone, the question Bermudians are sure to ask is what is next for Bermuda football.
"The topic of local football now should be when is the next fixture for the team to keep them active and develop themselves even further", Dane continued.
"The more games the national team get exposed to, the better they will become in the end, and that is what we all should be striving."
"Going forward the future looks to be very positive"
Former Bermuda and West Ham star Clyde Best, echoed Dane's comments, believeing that as the home side, Bermuda should have taken the game to their visitors.
"It is a funny game. We didn't take the game to them like we should have", said Best.
"We are at home and you shouldn't allow teams to come here and do what they did.
"They played slow to lure us into what they wanted us to do. We are the home side and should keep the tempo at a high pace. We can't drop off of teams and allow them to play football.
"I thought the linesman may have made a mistake, but you never substitute when you are taking a free kick.
"This Trinidad team isn't as good as I expected them to be. They knocked the ball around because we allowed them to.
"If we would have applied pressure to them it would have been different.
"We did what we had to do and got the result there. When you come home you have to defend what is yours and attack.
"You can not allow them have one second to be comfortable.
"We have the Digicel to look forward and should try to put our best foot forward."
Although the defeat left Bermuda thinking about what might have been, there were many who applauded the effort and the atmosphere at the venue.
"The atmosphere was electric, this is all about pride", said ISL commissioner David Bascome. "The spirit of the Island was awesome. I can't remember when the stadium was this full.
"The players did very well even though it was a tall order they were asked to do.
"We have many things for Bermuda football, the ISL and the Hogges for instance. Bermudians should be proud and expect better next time.
"We are proud people who love our country and this was a perfect time to show everyone that we support our team."
In past years games have been few and far between for the national team, which would lead one to assume that the national set-up will go back to old ways, playing only a handful of games a year.
Only in recent times, especially in the build up for the World Cup Qualifiers, has the side taken the field as many times as they should be.
"It is about going forward and what we do now", said Bermuda Hogges' coach Kyle Lightbourne. "It is important for us to build on this.
"The last qualifying run we had back in the nineties was great, but everything after that broke down.
"We can't stand still now, we have worked too hard to let it all go. It should start to become an everyday thing.
"We have come so far, to let it go now would be a waste."
"In order for us to bridge the gap this must be an everyday thing, who are playing next. That mentality will carry us a long way.
"We must be looking for our next opponent and playing international fixtures, not hoping and praying that we can get games on short notices."
Trinidad 2, Bermuda 0. (island Stat).
9:22 It's all over. Trinidad wins the game 2-0 and advances to meet the U.S., Cuba and Guatemala in the next round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
9:19 three minutes of stoppage time
9:18 Shot by Keishen is saved
9:17 Astwood shoots from 5 metres outside the penalty box and goes wide
9:16 Bermuda pressing....time is really short now...
9:14 a free kick for Bermuda about five metres outside the penalty box
9:12 Jemeiko plays it into the middle but can't find Keishen Bean and it's an easy save by Williams.
9:10 Time running out for Bermuda...about 10 minutes left in regulation
9:08 Domico Coddington comes on for Khano Smith
9:07 Stern John misses an easy shot.
9:05 Bermuda wins a free kick about 10 metres outside the penalty box. Williams makes a good save on a hard shot right at him.
9:02 An easy save by Figureido. Kenny Thompson was livid over the goal scored during subbing of Steede.
9PM Bermuda has to score now. trinidad has two away goals.
8:56 Trinidad scores on a header by Stern John as Jemeiko Jennings comes on for Kwame Steede
8:55 a diving save by Timmy and Trinidad gets another corner. Wade clears it.
8:53 Michael Edwards is injured and comes off and Cupid comes on.
8:48 Omar Shakir and Whitely get yellow cards. Earlier, Kofi Dill gets a yellow card.
8:44 Damon Ming steals the ball and the keeper comes out and Bermuda wins a corner
8:42 John Barry comes off and Stevie Astwood comes on. Stern John starts the half for Trinidad
Second half has strated and Timmy makes another great save!
Half time entertainment by the Bermuda Regiment and gombeys.
8:17 Bermuda wastes an opportunity right before the half as they have the numbers in the Trini box. Trinidad are deserved leaders of this game at the half.
Bermuda need to hold on for another 45 minutes to advance to the next round, but they definitely need to play better or Trinidad will get another goal.
8:16 John Barry makes a bold move and almost steals the ball in what would have been an easy shot on goal. Timmy makes an easy save.
8:15 Two minutes of extra time
8:14 Nusum has some fancy footwork and crosses to Kwame, but the keeper makes an easy save.
8:13 Keishen Bean goes down and Trinidad gets a yellow card for a late challenge. Free kick for Bermuda at midfield.
8:12 another great save by Figuereido in a one on one situation! Easily Bermuda's player for the half.
8:11 Bermuda being outplayed. Timmy comes out to collect the ball before Carlos Edwards can get to it.
8:08 Omar Shakir challenges Trinidad and miskicks and Trinidad gets another good look at the goal, but Meshak comes back to help out Timmy and Bermuda gets a goal kick.
8:07 Ming falls down for the second time in the last two minutes. Some good play by Kofi Dill to push the ball forward.
8:05 Trinidad keeper Williams touches the ball for the first time in over 20 minutes.
8:03 Timmy takes too much time and another free kick for Trinidad. The crowd is very, very quiet. Trinidad kicks over the bar again. Timmy gets away with a mistake.
8:02 Another free kick for Trinidad just outside the penalty area on the left side. The kick by Whitely goes just over the bar.
8:01 Kevin Richards saves Daryl Roberts from getting a shot on the goal on the left side. Great defence by Richards as Roberts falls down.
7:58 Antonio Lowe sweeps out the feet of Daryl Roberts just outside the penalty area on the right side. The cross to the left sees Timmy get a hand on it to push it away but he falls down. It's up to Wade to get the ball out to midfield.
7:58 Bermuda being beaten down the left flank again.
7:56 another great save by timmy off a shot by Roberts.
7:55 Free kick by Trinidad about 20 metres outside the penalty area. WADE CLEARS THE ball but Steede collides with Whitley and Trinidad gets another free kick. Great save by Timmy!
7:54 The Bermuda goal is under a constant barrage of attacks as Trinidad pushes for that second goal that they need. Whitely kicks over the Bermuda goal.
7:53 Timmy takes a goal kick
7:51 Meshak does a great job of forcing Trinidad in the corner.
7:49 daniels takes a shot but Timmy tips it out.
7:48 Shakir saves a one on one with the goalkeeper after Dill was out of position. Triniddad gets their second corner.
7:47 Omar Shakir breaks up an attack
7:45 Kofi Dill gives up a corner to Trinidad. He's being outplayed by Daryl Roberts.
7:41 Roberts crosses to Edwards and he missed a sitter. Trinidad should have been up 2-0.
7:39 Daryl Roberts scored for Trinidad. The ball was crossed to him and he turned and beat his man inside the six yard box.
7:38 Nusum is fouled and Bermuda gets a free kick in the Trinidad half. Kahno takes the shot and slips as he kicks the ball.
7:37 Trinidad shot goes wide. they missed a great opportunity to score.
7:36 a great cross from Nusum results in a Ming header over the goal.
7:35 Figureido makes a great save in a one on one situation from Carlos Edwatrds.
7:34 Bermuda wins the first corner, but the header goes over the goal.
7:32 Keishen Bean shoots high over the net from about 25 yards out.
7:30 Trinidad and Tobago gets first touch,
7:28 Bermuda Regiment Band marching off the field after the national anthems.The stadium has an excited tension to it as the fans wait for the start of the match.
7:20 There's about two dozen fans sitting on the roof of a yellow house on the south side of the field. The Bermuda regiment is marching on the field, Three radio commentators has made the press box a buzz of activity.
7:12 A moment of panic as the power briefly goes out. Slight power outage has been fixed. Bermuda team being announced to the fans. Loudest cheers for two-goal hero John Barry Nusum.
7:10 Fans still pouring through the gates as air horns blare. Surprise in the Trinidad side as veteran strikers John Stern and Jason Scotland are on the bench to start the game, John had Trinidad's only goal in the 2-1 Bermuda victory last week.
7pm: Starting line-ups: BERMUDA - Tim Figuerido (GK), Omar Shakir (Captain), Kofu Dill, Antonio Lowe, Kevin Richards, Meshak Wade, Kwame Steede, Keishen Bean, Khano Smith, Damon Ming, John Barry Nusum. Bench: Marquel waldron, Reggie Lambe, Jason williams, Jemeiko Jennings, Domico Coddington and Stevie Astwood.
TRINIDAD: - Jan Michael Williams (GK), Michael Edwards, Osei Telesford, Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards, Khaleem Hyalnd, Aurtis Whitley (Captain), Daryl Roberts, Jerrol Forbes, Keon Daniel. Bench: Kern Cupid, Kevon Carter, Jason Scotland, John Stern, David Stephean, Thomas Keyeno, Phillip Marvin.
6:50pm The stadium is s sea of red and white with numerous Bermuda flags waving in support of the home team.
6:45pm The First fan, Premier Ewart Brown arrived a few minutes ago. Wearing his #1 jersey with Premier written on the back, The Soca Warriors have entered the field.
6:42pm Bermuda enters the field for its warm-ups. still no team sheets.
6:25pm Gombey troupes entering the stadium.
6:13pm Waiting on team sheets for starting lineups. The stadium already has well over 2,000 fans in it.
The game starts at 7:30pm Bermuda Time. The Bermuda Sun will start providing updates from the National Centre at 6:30pm.
