Bermuda faded in the second half and the Kansas City Wizards stepped up a gear to win this friendly international with four goals in the final 20 minutes at the National Stadium.

With an important Major League Soccer game coming up on Saturday against the New England Revolution, the Wizards were concerned about picking up injuries.

Key striker Mo Johnston, the former Scottish international, and inspirational captain Preki both played just the first half, with Johnston coming off after only 27 minutes.

"We've got to protect our star players so I told them I would let them play a half a game, though both of them wanted to play a little longer,'' said Wizards head coach Ron Newman.

Newman was just as excited about renewing some old acquintances as he was about the result.

He knows Bermuda national team coaches Clyde Best and Gary Darrell as well as Carlton (Pepe) Dill and Randy Horton from the days of the North American Soccer League and enjoyed seeing them at the game.

"I knew Randy when he was with the (New York) Cosmos,'' said Newman who also had Best as his assistant coach at the San Diego Sockers. "The only one I haven't seen is Pepe Dill who used to play for me at Dallas.'' Bermuda held their own against the Wizards in the first half, though the longer the match went on the more the MLS team began to show their class.

Bermuda had two good chances when Kentoine Jennings' long range shot brought off a save from goalkeeper Chris Snitko after just four minutes. Then in the 20th minute, Keith Jennings threaded a ball into the box for his uncle Elliott Jennings but Snitko was quick to advance and intercept.

With Preki, Mark Chung and Eddie Rodrigues exerting themselves in midfield, the Wizards began to take control. Still, there was no lack of commitment from the Bermuda players as their tackles went in hard, with Frank Klopas and substitute Ike Udeh both taking knocks.

Rodrigues sidefooted a shot against the crossbar after a pass opened the Bermuda defence and found him at the far post on the half hour.

After Bermuda midfielder Chris Sabir wasted a good opportunity early in the second half when a shot sliced off his favoured left foot, the Wizards finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. A gstrong run forward from the heart of the defence by Matt McKeon resulted in Rodrigues driving a low shot past Dwayne Adams in the Bermuda goal.

The second goal came three minutes later when Chung exchanged passes with Udeh before shooting into the roof of the net.

Bermuda, who made two double substitutions in the second half, including the introduction of 16-year-old John Barry Nusum, continued to fade late in the game and the Wizards made them pay with a third goal in the 80th minute through Damian Silvera following a cross on the right.

After setting a good chance for Otis Steede late in the game, Nusum conceded the penalty which resulted in the fourth goal in the 90th minute when he fouled substitute Danny Barber who stepped up to beat Adams with his spotkick.

"We have a reputation to keep up,'' said Newman. "It was a very difficult game for us.

"Bermuda played very well in the first half and they had to make a lot of changes to give players in there and give them a game and it disrupts the rhythm when you put a lot of players in like that.'' Said Best: "We're still building and we have to do this sort of stuff. "I'm glad Ron was able to bring his team down here and give us a game because this is the sort of competition we need to play against if we want to compete on the big stage.'' Bermuda: D.Adams; N.Paynter (D.Boyles 80min), Kent.Jennings, L.Stevens, S.Burgess (J.B.Nusum 65min), S.Smith, V.Astwood, C.Sabir (L.Furbert 60min), R.Tucker (O.Steede 52min), Kei.Jennings (C.Hill 65min), E.Jennings (A.Russell 52min).

Kansas City: C.Snitko; S.Bowers, R.Tinsley, M.McKeon, Preki (D.Barber 46min), M.Chung, B.Johnson, F.Klopas (P.Wright 53min), M.Johnston (I.Udeh 27min), E.Rodrigues, M.McKeon.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of match: Kentoine Jennings (Bermuda), Mark Chung (Kansas City)