Under-15 squad falls to Namibia and Poland in Baku
Bermuda’s young prospects endured a punishing double-header on day three of the FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup & Festival in Baku, falling to consecutive defeats against Namibia and Poland.
Hopes were high heading into Monday’s action in Azerbaijan, but a bruising day delivered a stern test of resilience for the Gombey Warriors at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
The opening match on Pitch 4B saw Bermuda pushed to the limit by a physically sharp Namibia side in a tightly contested affair. Despite a spirited showing, the youngsters were edged out 2-1, with Stephen Astwood providing the solitary bright spot courtesy of a neat finish to pull one back.
Any optimism of an immediate response, however, was swiftly extinguished hours later across the complex on Pitch 5B.
Squaring off against a clinical Poland team, Bermuda found themselves thoroughly outmatched. The Europeans dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, carving through the lines to condemn the islanders to a comprehensive 5-0 loss.
The twin defeats cap a chastening 24 hours for the squad, who face a steep learning curve before tournament play resumes in Baku.
