Wild scenes of joy erupted inside the National Sports Centre yesterday evening as Bermuda's footballers of the future fired the Island into the next round of the Under-17 World Cup.

Needing only a draw to top their Caribbean qualifying group after favourites Guyana had been surprisingly beaten 3-2 by St. Lucia earlier in the day, coach Kenny Thompson's charges did just enough as they bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to Guyana on Friday night.

The result meant three of the four teams in the group - St. Lucia, Guyana and Bermuda - finished tied with four points each but it was Bermuda who took top spot on goal difference thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of St. Lucia in their opening game.

The young Bermudians now face a mountain to climb as they come up against the other Caribbean group winners, Cuba, on a date and at a venue still to be decided. Another qualifying group will follow with the finals of the Under-17 World Cup scheduled to take place in Finland next August.

On a historic day for local soccer, memories of the heartbreaking loss to Jamaica in the last qualifying campaign were finally laid to rest as players, officials and spectators came together in joyous celebration.

Bermuda looked to have sealed the match in the 71st minute when Damon Swan pounced on a loose ball inside the Trinidad six-yard box and whipped home a low drive to send the 1,500 fans into a frenzy.

But Trinidad came storming back and ten minutes later a fine solo effort by second-half substitute Akil DeFreitas levelled the scores.

Bermuda were suddenly under pressure. And sparked by that equaliser Trinidad - aware that victory would put them on top of the group - almost pulled off the unthinkable as Gorean Highley was sent free down the middle with just the `keeper to beat.

But Bermuda's Daniel Johnson pulled off the save of the match and perhaps the finest of his young career when he parried away Highley's firm close range blast.

It was then left to Bermudian defender Antonio Lowe to follow up and make a desperate clearance to save the day.

"Friday was a major disappointment because we left it into someone else's hands . We had the chance to qualify on Friday and we didn't and so we had to rely on help from someone else," said an emotional Thompson afterwards.

"Coming to the match and seeing St.Lucia go 2-0 up was very pleasing but I was still unsure . . . but finally they won it and our destiny was placed back in our own hands.

"We always felt that we could get the result that was needed and during the pre-match talk, the reference point was obviously Friday's match.

"We had control then and we didn't take advantage, so we had to learn from that and not let it slip again.

"We knew that if we could shut Trinidad down and keep it scoreless, then we would advance. Further to that we didn't play for a draw, we played to win the match and obviously knowing it would make it easier if we scored a goal.

"So we were delighted once we scored."

After DeFreitas had equalised, Thompson admitted the final minutes were nerve-wracking.

"I give credit to the entire team but also very important was the fantastic save by by our `keeper (Johnson) when it looked like they were going to score and then on the rebound they looked like they were going to score again and Antonio Lowe was so determined not to allow that ball go into the goal.

"And that's what's needed. Obviously the technical ability - the tactical concept has to be right as well but often to become champions you have to possess that determination and that was a fine example of determination and, of course, luck had its part to play as well."

Bermuda's triumph, however, was a costly one as defender Logan Alexander suffered injury during a hard tackle moments before half-time and was taken away by ambulance to receive further medical attention.

Bermuda, again sporting their brand new national kit, were undoubtedly buoyed by St.Lucia's earlier upset of Guyana which gave them a new lease on life.

Demonstrating good ball control and impressive distribution while utilising the full width of the `carpet', it wasn't long before gaping holes began to appear in the Trinidad defence.

Bermuda's first real chance arrived as early as the fifth minute when Swan sent Angelo Simmons - starting for the first time - down the right flank. But all Simmons could do was shoot wide of the near post.

Simmons should have then converted when a Taurean Manders shot rebounded into his path but the player's close range effort soared over the top.

Swan and Simmons combined well deep in Trinidad territory but the visitor's `keeper, Andre Charles, rushed off his line to thwart the raid.

During a rare Trinidad attack, Highley had a shot from 15 yards easily covered by Johnson.

Bermuda would mount two more attacks on the visitors' defence before Alexander suffered his injury which led to Trinidad's Marlon Ramsumair being booked.

The teams remained scoreless at the half.

Georgio Fox replaced Alexander at the break and later on Antwan Russell and Bermuda captain Kyle Outerbridge both came on as subs as the home side continued to attack relentlessly.

But it was Swan who answered the call 19 minutes from time after he was left with the simple task of stabbing home Russell's cross from out on the right after Simmons' first attempt was saved by the `keeper.

Trinidad's DeFreitas would mute the home crowd celebrations ten minutes later and set the stage for a gut-wrenching finale before Johnson and Lowe produced their match-saving heroics.

Bermuda: D.Johnson, M.Burch, R.Richardson, L.Alexander (G.Fox, 45 mins), A.Lowe, M.Piper (K.Outerbridge, 70 mins), Z.Darrell (A.Russell, 59 mins), T.Manders, D.Swan, K.Bean, A.Simmons.

Trinidad: A.Charles, A.Bobb, M.Cupid, M.James (W.Frederick, 6 mins), S.Bateau, J.Belgrave, K.Thomas, G.Highley, S.Aberdeen (A.DeFreitas, 68 mins), M.Ramsumair (K.Abosi, 72 mins).

Booked: M.James (Trinidad, 89 mins); M.Ramsumair (Trinidad, 45 mins).

Men of the match: T.Manders (Bermuda); G.Highley (Trinidad).

Referee: F.Dorsett (St.Kitt's).