The Tribune

THE Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team continued its recent struggles in international play and was eliminated from the CONCACAF Gold Cup prelims, prior to the group stage.

The Bahamas was held scoreless for the fourth consecutive contest and suffered a 2-0 loss to Guadeloupe in the second set of opening round qualifiers at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Bahamas had three shots on goal in the first half but saw a pair of promising opportunities stifled by Guadeloupe keeper Yohann Thurman in the game’s opening moments. Thurman blocked a header from Wood Julmis followed by another save when Marcel Joseph attempted to convert on the follow up.

Guadeloupe made its charge offensively led by Raphael Mirval, who had seven goals to top all players in League C of the CONCACAF Nations League. Bahamas goalkeeper Ian Lowe made a save on Mirval’s first shot on goal and added another on a Matthias Phaeton shot. Both sides played to a 0-0 tie at the half.

Guadeloupe scored at 61’ when Phaeton successfully converted on the game’s first goal. Mirval added a header in the 67’ for the game’s final margin.

In 2019, The Bahamas finished the Nations League with a 3-0-1 record to earn a spot in the Gold Cup Qualifiers.

The Bahamas topped the BVI, 4-0 at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis, followed with a 2-1 home win over Bonaire 2-1 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium and followed with another 3-0 win over BVI at home.

The 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League, the second season tournament, will host its group phase in May 2022, and the final tournament in March 2023.