PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Bermuda's history-making World Cup squad arrive back home this afternoon (12.25 p.m.) to begin preparations for their first-round tie with Antigua after surviving a tough tie against Haiti on the weekend.

Despite going down 2-1 in a match, which was televised live to Bermuda from the Sylvia Cator Stadium, Bermuda won the tie by virtue of Shawn Goater's 20th-minute goal, which counted double as an away goal because both teams won by a one-goal margin.

Once the 22-year-old striker broke the deadlock the home team found themselves needing to score three goals to win the tie. They managed to get two through midfielder Charlite Eliazar, a professional with American team Miami Freedom, in the 23rd and 78th minutes before some solid defending, which included some important saves from goalkeeper Dwayne Adams, kept them out.

The capacity crowd of about 25,000 was stunned when Bermuda took the lead midway into the first half, and even Goater himself thought the whistle had gone for offside, so quiet was the crowd when the ball hit the roof of the net.

"As the the goal was scored the crowd went into a big silence and I looked over to the linesman thinking he had given offside,'' said Goater.

Bermuda were down to 10 men when the goal was scored as Kyle Lightbourne was on the side changing his boots.

The home crowd lifted their team immediately and three minutes later, Haiti equalised when Eliazar, one of six professionals in the team, which contained two changes from the match in Bermuda last month, scored with a brilliant far-post header.

"All the players saw the advantage of having the crowd behind you,'' Goater said. "They were very sporting fans, they came to watch good soccer.'' Goater admitted that Haiti were the better team on the day as their crowd gave them a tremendous lift, a reception never experienced before by a number of the Bermuda players.

Bermuda also suffered an early setback when sweeper Shawn Smith went off after taking a knock in the 36th minute. The introduction of former captain Dennis Brown gave the defence added experience and maturity.

Before the half, the stretcher also came on for Kentoine Jennings but fortunately he managed to return.

After the restart it was virtually all Haiti as they attacked frantically in a bid to take the lead, which finally came 12 minutes from time when an Eliazar scorcher went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Minutes earlier, they should have gone ahead when Maurice Derivois shot wide from close range when well placed with Adams narrowing the angle.

Then the agile young 'keeper produced his finest save in the closing moments, diving well to his right to tip over a far-post header from substitute Robert Denis and keep a desperate Bermuda clinging to their slim advantage.

"Over the 90 minutes they dominated but it wasn't to be for them,'' Goater said. "We've got the luck and we have to use it to our advantage.'' Goater has again shown that even when he is not having one of his better matches he can still nip in and score important goals.

"What I have to stress is my game has changed dramatically and I think the players now are adapting to that,'' he said. "I'm doing a job and not so much entertaining. And if I'm not getting goals then I'm trying to set up the next partner.'' Manager Gary Darrell agreed that Haiti were a much better team than in Bermuda a month ago. "It was a long 12 minutes,'' he said of the closing period after Haiti scored their second goal. "It was a tense game and I'm drained.

"We got a chance to experience real national pride, it was unbelievable and it was the first time I've ever experienced anything like that. They had 12th and 13th players in their crowd, no question. I thought the officials did a great job.

"The crowd was a friendly crowd, they had the (Mexican) wave going before the kick-off and one of the reasons we were out as early as we were was to see what type of reception we would get.

"There was no booing to make us feel we should be intimidated by them. This crowd almost did it for them, you could see their team rising, and even Roy Stevens said he felt the effect of the crowd against us.'' The two matches against Antigua in the next round must be completed between June 15 and July 31 with Antigua reported to be anxious to play the first match at home. Darrell, too, would prefer to be at home for the first match.

"I don't expect Antigua to be anywhere near the opposition these guys were,'' said Darrell. "This group of players is not intimidated by anybody, they feel they can compete with anybody. I just hope the folks at home appreciate what we've done.

"There were little good things said about us even getting involved in the competition, from people prepared to speak out and who the general public respect as authorities.'' Haiti: R.Pierre Jerome; G.Cadet, J.Roland Dartiguenave, C.Marcelin, C.Telusma, J.Marie-Louis, M.Derivois, I.Chauvet, C.Eliazar, P.Tardieu (R.Denis, 61 mins), G.Dieujuste (F.Laguerre, 82 mins).

Bermuda: D.Adams; K.Grant, S.Smith (D.Brown, 38 mins), L.Stevens, V.Astwood; K.Jennings, M.Wade, K.Thompson, S.Goater, K.Lightbourne, S.Swan (N.Paynter, 72 mins).

Referee: Lancelot Livingston (Jamaica).

Linesmen: Richard Nathan, Owen Oowell (both Jamaica).

Men of the match: Charlite Eliazar (Haiti); Dwayne Adams (Bermuda).

The Bermuda team visited a children's ward at the hospital here on Saturday after taking a collection to purchase blankets for the sick children.

SHAWN GOATER -- Vital away goal.