Findlay & Lambe Reflect on Emotional 7-0 Home Farewell
IslandStats.com
The final home match of Bermuda's Concacaf World Cup 26 qualifying journey ended in a difficult 7-0 defeat to a rampant Curacao side, but the focus remained on the emotional farewell of national legend Reggie Lambe and the commitment of the squad to the future.
Bermuda Head Coach Michael Findlay acknowledged the painful scoreline but praised the players' continued motivation to compete at this elite level.
"We are all disappointed that we haven't been able to position ourselves to have the ultimate dream," Findlay said. "But we're still proud and very honoured to have been able to compete at this level against these teams... I think all the players are still motivated because they're still trying to establish themselves as a consistent selection for Bermuda".
Findlay emphasized the long-term vision, noting the crucial process of integrating youth into the team. "We now have players that have stepped up to the category. That's why it's nice to see youth coming in here to push against senior players," he stated.
The evening’s central moment was the final home appearance of Reggie Lambe. Findlay expressed his admiration for the retiring player: “Reggie Lambe is a legend in terms of what he’s done for Bermudian football... I hope they all celebrate him and congratulate him on his great service".
Lambe reflected on his decision to step down after a career spanning nearly two decades:
“It’s very emotional for me and I’m not really ready to call it quits, but I think it’s the right time for me,” Lambe shared. "I want to go out into the crowd and individually speak to people to show appreciation for everyone who supported me throughout my years".
Curacao, who had only been leading 2-0 at the break after two goals from the Bacuna brothers, relentlessly increased the pressure in the second half.
Goal 2 (32nd min): Juninho Bacuna blasted a shot past Dale Eve to double the lead. Goal 3 (48th min): Halftime substitute Jordi Paulina scored from the penalty spot, having been fouled in the box. Goal 4 (59th min): Sontje Hansen extended the lead to 4-0. Goal 5 (63rd min): Paulina followed up a save from substitute goalkeeper Detre Bell to net his second goal from close range. Goal 6 (83rd min): Another substitute, Ar'jany Martha, made it 6-0 with a 20-yard free-kick. Goal 7 (90'+3 min): In stoppage time, Roshon van Eijma let fly with a powerful long-range shot that secured the final score of 7-0.
The result, though disappointing, provides a clear benchmark for the young Bermudian squad as they look towards the next qualifying cycle starting in 2026.
