Bermuda’s first Concacaf Gold Cup ended with a bang as the Gombey Warriors celebrated their first tournament win defeating Nicaragua, 2-0, in both teams final match in Group B Monday at Red Bull Arena.
Lejuan Simmons broke the scoreless stalemate just past the hour mark when Osagi Bascome played him into space. The Robin Hood FC forward raced into the box on his second touch and powered his shot in off Nicaraguan goalkeeper Henry Maradiaga.
Ten minutes later, Nahki Wells scored his second goal of the tournament to seal the win. Simmons started the sequence with a few stepovers before sending an inch-perfect ball to the back post where Wells put a downward header in from the edge of the six.
Bermuda, which finished third in the group with three points, asked most of the questions in a scoreless, but entertaining opening 45 minutes. Willie Clemons settled a ball at the top of the box and fired off the left post in the 3rd minute. Six minutes later, Simmons latched onto a Wells cross, but his open header was wide of the net.
Last-place Nicaragua battled to the death and threatened late when Byron Bonilla stepped into space and fired a well-struck shot just wide of the far post five minutes from full time.
Goals
- 61’ — BER — Lejuan Simmons
- 71’ — BER — Nahki Wells
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: What a moment for Bermuda, which played Haiti and Costa Rica to a pair of one-goal losses before celebrating their first win. It’s a result that was coming and well deserved. Nicaragua, meanwhile, still searches for a first Gold Cup win, falling to 0-9 all-time in the tournament.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The goal by Wells essentially put the finishing touches on Bermuda’s first Gold Cup win, much to the delight of a healthy and boisterous crowd.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Simmons not only scored what proved to be the winner, he also set up Wells for the insurance goal 10 minutes later and was a threat throughout his 73-minute shift.
Next Up
- BER: End of tournament
- NIC: End of tournament
