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Thursday, June 25, 2026
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Wells & Luton Learn Vertu Trophy Opponents
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Nahki Wells and his Vertu Trophy holders Luton Town teammates have been drawn with Ipswich Town U21s, Colchester United and Peterborough United, who became the first side to defend the trophy in 2025.
Luton themselves overcame fellow 'Hatters' Stockport County 3-1 at Wembley in last season's final.
Sheffield Wednesday, under new ownership, are back in the competition after two seasons in the Championship.
Henrik Pedersen's side are in the same group as Sunderland U21s, Salford and Accrington Stanley.
Relegated Oxford United will face Tottenham Hotspur U21s, Cheltenham, and Exeter City.
The third relegated Championship team, Leicester City, will compete in this competition for the first time since their last spell in the third tier in 2008-2009.
New Foxes boss Russell Martin will see his side up against Fulham U21s, Stevenage and Walsall.
York City, who returned to the English Football League as National League champions, will face Newcastle United U21s, Bradford City and Rotherham.
National League play-off winners Rochdale are rewarded with matches against Liverpool U21s, Huddersfield and Doncaster Rovers.
The 64 clubs have been split into groups of four, with the top two from each advancing to the knockout phase.
Manchester City U21s are in a group with Port Vale, Chesterfield and Mansfield.
Manchester United withdrew from this season's EFL Trophy and National League Cup earlier this week.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2026
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Lady Zebras Go Top of the Pile After Overcoming Dandy Stars
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Dandy Stars 1 PHC Lady Zebras 3
The PHC Lady Zebras surged to the summit of the Bermuda Football Association's Women's Division after a commanding 3-1 victory over Dandy Stars at a sun-drenched Bernard Park.
An explosive first-half performance blew the hosts away, with dynamic forward Akeyla Furbert spearheading a clinical attacking display that left Dandy Stars with too much of a mountain to climb.
The Lady Zebras wasted no time stamping their authority on the match, breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes. Furbert found space inside the area to slot home a composed finish, instantly unsettling the Dandy Stars backline.
PHC continued to dictate the tempo and double up their advantage ten minutes before the interval. Keunna Dill showed sharp instincts to hit the back of the net in the 35th minute, capping off a period of sustained pressure.
Before Dandy Stars could regroup, Furbert struck again. In the 39th minute, she grabbed her second of the evening, capitalizing on defensive frailty to send the rampant Lady Zebras into the half-time break with a comfortable 3-0 cushion.
Dandy Stars emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and were handed a lifeline just two minutes after the restart.
Pressure in the PHC penalty box forced a defensive mix-up, resulting in a 47th-minute own goal that cut the deficit to 3-1.
Despite the early setback in the half, the Lady Zebras reorganized effectively. They shut down any hopes of a dramatic Dandy Stars comeback, comfortably managing the remaining minutes to secure all three points and claim their rightful spot at the top of the league table.
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Tuesday, June 23, 2026
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Armstrong on target as FC Motown II down the Hammers
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Bermudian prospects Andrew Armstrong and Xahvi DeRoza enjoyed a triumphant night in USL League Two action as FC Motown II secured a clinical 3-1 victory over the Hudson Valley Hammers.
It was a performance defined by sharp transition play and clinical finishing from the Motown outfit, who established dominance either side of the half-time interval to leave their opponents chasing shadows.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Michael Ndiweni capitalised on a defensive lapse to rifle home the opener, ensuring FC Motown II carried a slender 1-0 advantage into the break.
The match erupted into life immediately after the restart, and it was Bermuda's own Armstrong who took center stage. In the 48th minute, the forward produced a moment of absolute quality, ghosting into the box to find the back of the net. It would ultimately prove to be the match-winning goal, doubling his side's advantage and shattering the Hammers' tactical blueprint.
Motown continued to press home their advantage, and just before the hour mark, Julien Lacher put the game seemingly out of reach, finishing a slick team move in the 59th minute to make it 3-0.
The Hudson Valley Hammers did manage to spark a brief pocket of resistance in the final quarter of the match. Giovanni Rivera clawed a goal back in the 69th minute to reduce the deficit, but the Motown defensive unit, marshalled effectively with DeRoza's contributions, stood firm under late aerial pressure.
The authoritative 3-1 victory secures a vital three points for FC Motown II as they look to maintain their upward momentum in the highly competitive USL League Two standings.
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Saturday, June 20, 2026
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Christopher's FH Hafnarfjörður Exit after Extra-Time
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Bermuda international Nia Christopher suffered cup heartbreak as FH Hafnarfjörður Women bowed out of the Icelandic Cup at the quarter-final stage following an agonizing 3-2 extra-time defeat to ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar.
In a see-saw encounter defined by resilience and relentless counter-punches, FH twice clawed their way back from behind, only to be undone by a decisive strike in the first period of extra time.
ÍBV ignited the tie almost immediately, caught FH cold in just the fourth minute when Allison Lowrey found the back of the net to hand the visitors a dream start.
FH gradually grew into the contest, testing the ÍBV backline with Christopher's trademark pace and direct running. Their persistence paid off just before the interval when Ida Hermannsdóttir struck a well-deserved equalizer in the 42nd minute, sending the sides into the break locked at 1-1.
The second half mirrored the first, with ÍBV regaining the ascendancy early on. Just four minutes after the restart, Allison Clark pierced the FH defense to restore ÍBV's advantage.
Faced with elimination, FH mounted a furious late rally. Their pressure finally told in the 79th minute when Berglind Hlynsdóttir turned home a dramatic equalizer, ensuring the frantic clash ended 2-2 at the end of normal time.
With heavy legs and tensions mounting, the tie moved into an additional 30 minutes.
The definitive blow fell in the 104th minute, courtesy of Avery Vander Ven. The ÍBV forward clinical edge proved to be the difference, breaking FH hearts just before the brief extra-time interval.
Despite a valiant push in the closing stages, Christopher and her teammates could not find a third equalizer, bringing a cruel end to their impressive domestic cup campaign.
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Friday, June 19, 2026
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Honours even as Lady Trojans hold Lady Zebras
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PHC Lady Zebras 1 Somerset Lady Trojans 1
The PHC Lady Zebras and the Somerset Lady Trojans shared the spoils at Bernard Park after playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the Bermuda Football Association Women’s Football Division.
In a highly anticipated tactical battle under the lights, both teams displayed immense defensive resilience, ultimately refusing to be separated after an explosive first-half scoring exchange.
It was the Lady Zebras who carved out the game's opening breakthrough. Dictating play early from the midfield, PHC capitalized on their sustained pressure in the 27th minute when clinical forward Keunna Dill found space inside the penalty area. Dill showed superb composure, latching onto a slick through-ball to slot home and hand the Lady Zebras a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
However, the West End outfit issued a swift and resolute response. Refusing to let PHC settle into their rhythm, the Somerset Lady Trojans began pressing higher up the pitch and reaped their rewards just nine minutes later.
In the 36th minute, Zhakhari Turner turned the match on its head, seizing upon a loose ball in the final third and unleashing a powerful effort past the PHC goalkeeper to level the scoring at 1-1.
The second half proved to be a grueling, physical encounter as both managers tinkered with their systems to search for a decisive winner. PHC threw bodies forward in the closing stages, stretching the Somerset backline, while the Lady Trojans remained a constant menace on the counter-attack.
Ultimately, neither side could find the clinical final touch required to break the deadlock before the referee's final whistle, leaving the two domestic powerhouses to pocket a hard-earned point apiece.
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