Burkhard Ziese because it was clear that everyone was proud of the performance by the Bermuda team despite this defeat.

Few among the crowd of 2,300 at National Stadium last night were disappointed with the local players who, after being assembled for just six training sessions, took on the formidable Americans and gave them a run for their money.

Shawn Goater, a professional with the English Second Division club Rotherham, was the early toast of the stadium when he majestically rose above the defence to smartly head home a corner by Mark Ray to put the local team ahead 1-0 after just 12 minutes.

The visitors however made great impression by showing supreme confidence throughout and with their fluent buildups they managed to fight back bravely.

Brian Kamler blasted home the equaliser for them after 26 minutes and the winning goal came from the hard-working Jason Dunn two minutes before the interval.

"I got a little nervous when Bermuda got the first goal on a corner kick. I felt that if we came out of the first half one down we would be in serious trouble,'' said the United States' coach John Ellinger.

"We played well. Bermuda put us under a lot of pressure half-way through the second half and we managed to weather the storm. It was a very good game and it could have gone either way.'' Bermuda's coach Ziese attributed the goals that the Americans scored to errors by the defence, but he still credited the visitors for a good performance.

"We lost because of mistakes, but both of their goals were excellent ones.

After just six training sessions we at least gave them a good fight and a run for their money. I was very pleased with the performances of Leonard Hypolite and goal-keeper Troy Hall,'' said Ziese.

He also felt that both professionals Goater and Kyle Lightbourne of Walsall did well despite having just played with their clubs on the weekend and enduring a long flight home for the match.

The crescendo of cheering by the fans reached a high when Goater showed great class by firmly heading Bermuda ahead. And Bermuda came close to adding a second 10 minutes later when Hypolite took a short corner kick from Ray and hammered an angled shot that the defence scrambled away.

It became evident that if the visitors were going to score Dunn would somehow be involved one way or another and this proved to be so.

A slip-up by Robinson in the Bermuda defence led to a free-kick just outside the penalty box after Paul Towlson committed a foul.

Dunn's made a short pass to Kamler was blasted home to make it 1-1. The United States now started to show their superiority and moved the ball into more threatening areas and the go-ahead goal appeared to be imminent.

It almost came after 33 minutes but the efficient Hall, playing in goal for the first time with a Bermuda Select, brilliantly denied Salcedo success when he dived to save the forward's blast from close range -- pushing it wide for a corner.

During a counter-attack Dusty Hudock in goal for the United States showed his worth when he saved a Lightbourne drive.

After Alan Prampin put a shot over, Dunn grabbed what turned out to be the clincher when his fierce shot from 16 yards went home off a defender.

After being stranded up front for the last 15 minutes of the first half Goater and Lightbourne almost scored the equaliser early in the second half. After 55 minutes a blast by Lightbourne was sensationally blocked by the advancing Hudock and the rebound fell to the feet of Goater whose angled shot from close in on the right was dramatically pushed wide for a corner by the goal-keeper.

But like the true professionals they are the United States came back into the game by raising their rhythm and pace, sweeping down on their opponents with the precision that had temporarily deserted them.

Bermuda were let off when substitute Jason Kreis headed against the post and McBride's shot from the rebound was incredibly pushed wide by the diving Hall.

Like fighting tigers Bermuda refused to give in and Lightbourne brought the fans alive with a sensational effort after 83 minutes.

Called on to take a free kick from 40 yards the elegant striker sent a thunderbolt shot that goal-keeper Hudock brilliantly pushed for a corner after diving to his right.

"When I first looked at it I thought I was too far away because it would give the goalkeeper a chance to get over. Another 10 yards closer I don't think he would have reached it,'' said Lightbourne who was not too pleased with his performance.

The game finished off with Bermuda again being let off the hook as the young substitute Jahmah Samauels, while on his goal-line, cleared away a header by Kamler.

Bermuda: T.Hall; M.Ray, K.Roberts, P.Towlson (J.Samuels (67 min), M.Dill (L.Christopher (45 min), N.Robinson; P.Cann, D.Boyles, L.Hypolite; K.Lightbourne, S.Goater.

United States: D.Hudock; J.Vancour, T.Yeagley, B.Ward, B.Harte, B.Kamler; J.Salcedo, B.Bates (M.Kmosko, 54 min), J.Dunn (J.Glenn, 73 min); B.McBride, A.Prampin (J.Kreis, 67 min).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell Men of the match: Troy Hall (Bermuda); Jason Dunn (United States).