Bermuda win; Bahamas advance on technicality

In the first of two matches today, the Bahamas faced the British Virgin Islands at home in Nassua for the second time in five days. Coming into the second leg with the aggregate tied at 1-1, the favored Bahamanians felt pressure to deliver a first round victory over their opponents. The Bahamas looked to be in great position to meet Jamaica in June after nabbing a two-goal lead before the hour. Even after British Virgin Islands' captain Anadale Williams knocked home a goal late in the second half, it appeared to be too little, too late. Suddenly, in the nintieth minute, Williams struck again and the final whistle came with the scored tied at 2-2.

The aggregate was now tied at 3-3 apiece. With both legs having been played in Nassau, surely extra time was to be played. Unfortunately, a terrible decision was handed down. Because the British Virgin Islands had forfeited the right to a home game to the Bahamas, the second game had actually counted as a "road" game for Bahamas. Bahamas scored twice in their "road" match compared to the British Virgin Islands' one in the first match and advanced on the road-goals tiebreaker 2-1. This ruling was an absolute travesty. If anything, British Virgin Islands should have advanced 3-0 on the road-goals tiebreaker. In all honesty, though, this tie should have gone to an extra period followed by a penalty-kick shootout should the scored have remained tied at the end of an additional half hour.

"We missed all our chances, but we should have scored four or five. We will make things right in the second leg." -Keith Tucker, coach of Bermuda

In a tie that also began the day knotted at one goal apiece, Bermuda visited the Cayman Islands. Bermuda did not allowed for an upset result this time around and built a 2-0 lead going into the half. Another goal stretched the lead to three before the hour mark. The Caymans had already garnered four yellow cards before Bermuda's Kevin Richards earned their only yellow for taking down a Cayman player inside of the penalty area. The ensuing Cayman penalty-kick goal rounded out the scoring 3-1. The 4-2 aggregate victory sends Bermuda to face Trinidad and Tobago in round two of CONCACAF qualifying in June.

Goal scorers:
Bahamas: Bethel 40; Mitchell 52

British Virgin Islands: Williams 78, 90

Bermuda: DeGraff 18, 25; Steede 52

Cayman Islands: Forbes 63 PK