tonight's opponents Cuba share and breathed exhalation of a man who has just savoured a particularly satisfying meal.

In a way he had.

He had just returned from the Truman Bodden Stadium where he feasted on host nation the Cayman Islands' surprise 2-2 draw against Cuba in the first match of the Shell Caribbean Cup without a trace of the footballing equivalent of indigestion. "I am very happy, very happy,'' said the Island's soccer Technical Director following Wednesday night's game.

"It was a great result for us.'' Head coach Robert Calderon added: "Cuba played pretty smart for the first 20 minutes, but then the Caymanians, who looked like good athletes, lured them into their way of playing.'' Cuba came to this tournament ranked 84th in the world -- that's about 15 places higher than Wales. But if they've got anyone who can give Ryan Giggs a run for his money they kept him well hidden.

The team that got them to that exalted position -- 81 places above the Caymans and a few more still above Bermuda -- had failed to set the CONCACAF Gold Cup alight earlier this year, losing 3-0 to the US and 7-2 to Costa Rica.

And this is a very different team from that one.

Only two of the players who took part in that competition are here: Lester More, tall, thin and with pace, which he uses to good effect on either flank, and Khadafi Gou, who was surprisingly left on the bench.

This team is warming up for the CAC Games in Venezuela.

Not all of the players even play in the seven-strong top division in Cuba, where there are no professionals.

More, in fact, got the opening goal after 14 minutes on Wednesday and may have to be watched if Bermuda opt for the 3-5-2 system they started with against Miami Fusion.

Result suits Bermuda fine From Page 25 But fellow striker Carlos Zayas also caught the eye and a number of observing Bermuda players were impressed by diminutive forward Yanko Canizarez.

Said David Bascome: "He looks for the ball a lot but he is very small and I don't think he likes physical contact. It's important to get on top of them and keep the ball in midfield.

"But we are playing for our country now and there is no time to be worrying about the other team. I am very confident that we can come away with a win.'' However, Best is concerned that that self belief doesn't turn into over-confidence: "We can talk all we want to about how we should beat both of these teams, but is on the field that the games are won,'' he warned.