When it was all over, there was no inflated show of emotion. No swagger. No fist-in-the-face, take-that histrionics.

That, of course, is not the Bermudian way -- even after a display steeped in the greatest qualities which answered all the critics.

In the greatest gesture of the afternoon the players also gathered around Bayer Leverkusen's star defender Tom Dooley and posed for photographers. It was Dooley, after all, who had predicted a 10-0 rout for the top German club side. Yesterday he was not just made to eat his words, they were rammed down his throat.

By any standards, yesterday's performance by the under-23s must rank as one of the finest ever turned in by a Bermudian team on foreign soil. It left head coach Mark Trott with a look on his face which no words could express.

"I am a proud man. Today we showed the kind of football we are capable of,'' he declared.

His team had lost -- just. But few would be churlish enough to deny that this was Bermuda's day. In many ways they were the victors.

In Southampton midfielder Janeiro Tucker, Bermuda also paraded a player with a right foot any Brazilian would be proud of.

Tucker's brilliant second half goal -- a 35-yard screamer burned itself into the memory cells of the fans.

"It was one of the best goals of my life, particularly when you are playing such first-class opposition,'' said Tucker afterwards with joy written all over his face.

After Wednesday's strangely lacklustre performance against the United States Under-21 side -- a team by no means superior in skill to Bermuda -- it was important for Trott's charges to rediscover their pride.

This they did magnificently! The match itself was a tale of three teams. The Germans, much to Trott's annoyance, decided to field two teams, one playing in each half.

As partial compensation, Bermuda were allowed to make a limitless number of substitutions -- a relaxation of the rules which Trott took full advantage of.

Nevertheless he was clearly irritated.

"No wonder they talked about beating us 10-0 if they, as professionals, can play with two teams,'' he fumed. `It was already a moral victory for us.'' From the outset it was clear the under-23 players were pumped up for the occasion. Any fears they would be overawed competing against such stars as Rudi Voeller, Vif Kirsten, Christian Woerns, Bern Schuster, Ioan Lupescu and Andreas Thon, all of whom played in the first half, were allayed.

With the confidence of having captain Dwayne (Streaker) Adams' safe pair of hands behind them, Andrew Rahman, Sean Simmons, Shawn Smith and Dano Outerbridge never stood firm as they repeatedly thwarted Voeller and company.

Karl Roberts was again a tower of strength in the midfield and has probably emerged as the player of this Orlando tour.

Just the sight of him bustling about with his leg heavily strapped following an injury should have been enough to send team-mates into overdrive. In the 18th minute the hearts of the small contingent of Bermudian fans fluttered as striker Nakia Smith threatened with a run down the left and into the heart of Leverkusen's defence.

Four minutes later Shawn Simons and Raynel Lightbourne combined to create another buzz of excitement around the Seminole County Sports Training Centre.

Simons beat a German defender down the right flank and whipped in a cross which Lightbourne effortlessly volleyed just 18 inches over the bar from 10 yards out.

Voeller had been superbly handled by Bermuda's defence and in a show of frustration was lucky not to have been shown the red card when, in the 35th minute, he crudely brought down Kentoine Jennings.

While Voellerr was shown a yellow card Janeiro Tucker replaced Jennings who was helped off the pitch. Minutes later Kwame Tucker came on for Lightbourne as Trott repeatedly shuffled his pack in a bid to keep the players as fresh as possible under a hot sun.

"Bermuda is a very good team, their tactics are good and they have played with discipline,'' said Leverkusen manager Rainer Calmund after the first half. "Karl Roberts has impressed me. He is a very good player.'' Thirty seconds after the restart Leverkusen broke the deadlock when a glorious 25-yard drive by Diane Tailfour finally beat Adams.

He was beaten again 10 minutes later when striker Andreas Neundorf split open Bermuda's defence with a pass to Ralf Becker who knocked the ball home from eight yards.

Moments after Neundorf had rattled Bermuda's crossbar with a rip-roaring 30-yard shot, Tucker stunned the Germans with his own shooting power.

It was an opportunist strike which came out of nowhere in the 76th minute. It left Daniel Ischdonat no chance as the ball soared into the right hand corner.

Leverkusen (first half team:) D.Ischdonat; M.Happe, J.Melzig, C.Woerns, I.Lupescu; P.Hapal, A.Thon, B.Schuster; V.Kirsten, H.Lehnhoff, R.Voeller.

Second half team: D.Ischdonat; M.Kurth, M.Tolkmitt, T.Dooley, J.Nehl, V.Lindinger, M.Rietpietsch, M.Muench; D.Taifour, R.Becker, A.Neundorf.

Outstanding players: Bernd Schuster (first half), Diane Taifour (second half).

Bermuda: D.Adams; A.Rahman, S.simmons, S.Smith, D.Outerbridge; K.Roberts, O.Steede, K.Jennings; R.Lighhtbourne, N.Smith, S.Simons. Also played as subs: J.Tucker, K.Tucker, K.Binns, D.Bailey, A.Russell.

Man of match: Karl Roberts.

Referee: Roy Gatewood.