CONCACAF U-15 Championships 2013: Bermuda defeats Aruba.

Aruba faced Bermuda yesterday Jai-Zel Smith-Deshields scored two goals and Bermuda (4-0-0, 12 points) defeated Aruba 3-1 to take sole possession of first place in Group A.  In a battle of unbeaten and untied teams, the Bermudians went ahead through Amar Lewis in the seventh minute.  Three minutes later, Smith-Deshields netted his first and then added a second just one minute after the break to give Bermuda a 3-0 lead. Ryan Illes pulled one back for Aruba 3-0-1, 9 points) in the 39th minute for the game’s last goal.  Aruba’s Jean-Pierre Van Der Linden, who scored six goals in a 10-0 win over the US Virgin Islands on Friday, did not find the back of the next.  Bermuda needs only a draw against last-place Sint Maarten in its last group game to seal a place in the semifinals. Goals were scored by: Amar Lewis 7’; Jai-Zel Smith-Deshields 10’, 36’ -- Ryan Illes 39’ Man of the Match was Jean Pierre van der Linden (Aruba).

Aruba's Coach Marvic Bermudez said " I Thank God for the LESSON learned Aruba lost 1-3 against Bermuda.My lesson for today was lack of concentration & character those who do not pay attention and take advantage of chances pay the price. Next game vs Cayman island I will pay a lot of atenshon to that point . We Love Aruba."

Also in Group A The US Virgin Islands (USVI) registered its first win of the tournament, defeating Sint Maarten in a closely contested match.  Both teams had previously been eliminated from semifinal contention, but with the pressure off, they played some attractive football. USVI (1-0-3, 3 points) had to come from behind to secure the victory, going down a goal after Brandon Potmis struck in the ninth minute.  An own-goal by James Cook, though, levelled the score 14 minutes later and set USVI on its way.  A minute before the half, Kumar Serrant struck to give USVI a lead it would not relinquish.  Reno Brooks made it 3-1 in the 55th before Yannick Dinane brought Sint Maarten (0-0-4, 0 points) back to within one in the 58^th.

^{Later on in Group A} The Cayman Islands (3-0-1, 9 points) moved into second place in Group A on goal difference over Aruba thanks to a 3-1 win over the Bahamas (1-0-3, 3 points).  The tournament host took a 3-0 lead into the half, playing focused football and putting Friday’s loss to Bermuda behind them. Leighton Thomas Jr. found his goal scoring touch, making it 2-0 after Zachary Scott netted the opener.  Sebastian Martinez tripled the lead five minutes before the interval.  Re’John Ene scored the Bahamas’ lone goal with 10 minutes remaining in regulation Goals were scored by:Zachary Scott 11’, Leighton Thomas Jr. 16’, Sebastian Martinez 30’ -- Re’John Ene 60’ Man of the Match was Zachary Scott (Cayman Islands).

Here are Group A Standings & Tuesday August 20th schedule.