Sligo Rovers defender Dante Leverock captains Bermuda to historic first CONCACAF Gold Cup win over Nicaragua

Sligo Rovers defender Dante Leverock captained Bermuda as they made history with their first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup win over Nicaragua on Monday evening.

Bermuda’s debut against Haiti and subsequent meeting with hosts Costa Rica had ended in 2-1 defeats by the finished on a high with a 2-0 win to take third place in the group.

Goals in the final half-hour from Lejuan Simmons and Nakhi Wells ensured the Caribbean nation left their first tournament for North and Central American nations with three points.

Robin Hood winger Simmons was the star as he opened the scoring with a well-taken finish on the hour mark before turning provider for Wells ten minutes later.

Simmons latched onto a through ball from Osagi Bascome, outpacing the defender before opening his body for a shot goalkeeper Henry Maradiaga couldn’t prevent from hitting the net.

And it was Simmon’s right-footed cross, cutting in from the left, that presented Burnley striker Wells with the chance to make it 2-0 with a nicely-placed downward header.

Leverock, who scored Bermuda’s first-ever Gold Cup goal in the opener against Haiti, should return to Ireland in time for Liam Buckley’s side’s Premier Division trip to Finn Harps on Friday.