HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Bermuda made wholesale changes to the side that suffered a 5-1 mauling at the hands of regional powerhouses Mexico here last week, but bounced back to hold Guatemala to a goalless draw in a friendly international at the National Stadium on Tuesday night.
Deprived of the services of leading professionals Nahki Wells, Reggie Lambe and Zeiko Lewis, who had all returned to their respective overseas clubs ahead of the match, national coach Kyle Lightbourne gave a number of his fringe players, including Paul Douglas, Cecoy Robinson, Liam Evans and Chikosi Basden, the chance to stake their claim.
Without their big-hitters against a team ranked 34 places above them by FIFA, Bermuda lacked a cutting edge to break the deadlock in a game watched by 1,105 fans, and there was little for them to shout about.
Overall, Lightbourne made eight changes to the team that lost to Mexico and regular captain Danté Leverock remained on the substitutes’ bench as defender Tre Ming wore the captain’s armband in his return to the team.
Lightbourne said he was pleased with the exercise in preparation for next month’s CONCACAF Nations League second-leg match away to Mexico.
“Keeping a clean sheet was a positive because we’ve shipped goals in our last two home matches and it was nice to take a look at Paul Douglas and Liam Evans,” Lightbourne said.
“Overall, I’m happy that we didn’t get beaten and it was a great exercise for us to play without the pressure of needing a result.” Although Guatemala are ranked 133rd compared to Bermuda’s 167th in the world, they are in League C while Bermuda are in League A of the Nations League.
Bermuda lost their opener against Panama 4-1 here before springing a shock by winning the away game 2-0.
Guatemala went into Tuesday night’s game having defeated Anguilla 5-0 in a League C match at the weekend.
Bermuda were lacklustre in the opening 45 minutes, and it was the Central American outfit who created the only clear-cut chances.
But a combination of profligacy and fine goalkeeping from Dale Eve kept the score goalless during the first half as chances came and went for Guatemala with Allen Yanes, Jorge Arapicio and Jorge Vargas all wasting good chances to break the deadlock
Bermuda looked sharper in the second half, Willie Clemons, operating from the left-hand side, going closest for the hosts with a low free-kick from the edge of the box but it was easily saved by Nicolas Haggen in the 59th minute.
