Bermuda's footballers may have been knocked out of the World Cup last night - but their heroic efforts inspired the whole country to unite behind them.

A courageous performance earned Bermuda a 2-2 draw against El Salvador at the National Sports Centre but it was the Central Americans who went through to the next qualifying phase with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

You would never have guessed that from the standing ovation the players received at the final whistle from 4,500 fans who had produced a rousing and patriotic atmosphere from well before kick-off.

And when half the Cabinet rose to their feet, arms outstretched, as the Mexican wave rippled around the stadium, it was clear that this was a truly special occasion.

Fans waved Bermuda flags, huge and small. Many wore replica national team shirts that have been selling like hot cakes at the Bermuda Football Association office for $50 and $60 each over the past week.

Not everyone who wanted to see the game was able to get a ticket, but some of those locked out managed to find alternative vantage points. Around 30 particularly determined fans stood on the roof of a nearby house to watch the action.

A full three-quarters of an hour before the 7 p.m. kick-off, more than half the seats were full and the excitement was tangible.

Even Kyle Lightbourne, who has played in front of a full house at Wembley Stadium, was moved.

“I played professional football in England for many years so I've seen noisy crowds, but I always dreamed of us having an atmosphere like this in Bermuda,” he said, as he watched the game, having been sidelined by a calf strain.

The politicians were out in force - Premier Alex Scott, Sports Minister Dale Butler, Transport Minister Ewart Brown, Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent and Labour and Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton, to name just a few.

Mr. Butler was waving his Gombey battleaxe in a most un-ministerial manner, as has become tradition in recent months at national team football matches.

“I call our team the Gombey warriors,” Mr. Butler said. “And this hatchet I bring along is a national symbol.”

Gerald Simons also made his feelings clear as he moved around the grandstand waving a banner bearing with the words, “Let's go Bermuda, let's go!”

As more people streamed in, the Gombeys whipped up the crowd's fervour, their rapid drum beat setting pulses racing as they danced on the running track, accompanied by a bizarre mascot - half football, half Bermuda onion - dancing around.

Shine Hayward earned a roar of approval after he played the national anthem on the saxophone.

The football started and the decibel level picked up a few notches when Bermuda took the lead with a penalty after just five minutes. High fives all round.

When El Salvador equalised, there was a stunned silence and the excited chatter of the Salvadorian radio commentators could be heard from the packed press box.

The party resumed two minutes later however, when John Barry Nusum's sensational diving header flew into the net and the stadium exploded with delight.

Even after the visitors equalised and Bermuda captain Kentoine Jennings was sent off the fans did not stop believing.

They sounded their klaxons and chanted throughout the second half, but in the end the team fell just short.

The night may have ended in defeat, but that's not the way it felt. The players had given their all for their country - and so had the fans.