Antigua 0 Bermuda 0 Bermuda got the result they came for at the Recreation Grounds in St. John's yesterday -- but it could have been so much better.

Antigua played the last 40 minutes with 10 men after defender George Dublin was sent off for his second yellow card and from that moment on, Bermuda dominated.

Young substitute John Barry Nusum missed two excellent chances and midfielder Paul Cann also fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity, as the visitors piled on late pressure.

If one of those chances had fallen to Kyle Lightbourne or Shaun Goater, Bermuda would likely be bringing home a victory, and there could be no more graphic illustration of why they need their professional strikers in the World Cup.

However, the goalless draw leaves Bermuda favourites to finish the job off in the second leg at the National Stadium on Sunday and advance to a third World Cup qualifying round against St Kitts or St Vincent. St.Vincent won their home leg 1-0 yesterday.

The Antiguan team were much more experienced than the Antigua Football Association had earlier indicated with 19-year-olds Janiel Simon and Troy Simon the youngest in the starting 11, and three players around the 30 mark.

From the outset, it was clear Bermuda would be playing with only Steve Astwood up front, but despite the defensive formation, they made the first serious attack after just two minutes.

Left wingback Stanton Lewis curled in a fine cross which was weakly cleared to the edge of the penalty area, where Astwood's first-time snap-shot crept just wide of the right-hand upright.

The home side's first real threat came in the eighth minute when the lively Quentin Clarke raced through on goal and keeper Dwayne Adams came rushing out of his penalty area to boot the ball to safety.

Bermuda dominated the opening 15 minutes, with Meshach Wade and Kentoine Jennings doing most of the prompting from midfield.

A glorious ball by Jennings in the 12th minute sent right wingback Tokia Russell racing down the flank and his excellent low cross was toe-poked inches wide of his own goal by Antigua central defender Skeal Phillip, as Astwood lurked behind him.

The Caribbean side then started to get their game going, using a short passing style which made the most of the immaculate surface, used primarily for cricket.

A few crosses were swung dangerously into the Bermuda penalty area, but Karl and Clifford Roberts won the aerial battles time and again.

When Antigua's leading scorer Derrick Edwards finally got his head to a cross 10 yards from goal, Adams dived to his left to pluck it out of the air.

The Bermuda defence were caught out on the half hour, when a deftly chipped pass from the edge of the box by Morlon Tonge was volleyed way wide from a good position by Edwards.

Bermuda battled to hold their own up to half-time, as Antigua imposed themselves on the game.

And in the first minute of the second period, Antigua went close to an opening goal when Quentin Clarke hit an rasping drive from an acute angle just over the angle of post and crossbar.

But the visitors soon settled down again and with Russell pushing forward more and more up the right flank, Bermuda appeared to be coming out of their defensive shell.

Bermuda received a boost when Dublin got his marching orders in the 55th minute. The defender, who had been cautioned earlier for time wasting at a throw-in, committed an equally foolish offence to pick up his second yellow card, hauling over Wade by his shirt yards away from the referee.

The incident silenced the crowd of 3,000 or so and sparked Bermuda into life.

Wade's driving run and perfect pass created a clear-cut chance for Paul Cann, but he shot tamely wide from 15 yards. Jennings volleyed wide from 10 yards following a corner and the Bermuda bench decided to go for a more offensive strategy, replacing midfielder Boyles with striker Nusum in the 65th minute.

Nusum soon made his presence felt and did well to reach a through ball ahead of the home defenders, but his feeble shot was easy for Simon to save.

Cann created a great opening for Nusum, unmarked 15 yards from goal, but the youngster hesitated and was hounded out by defenders.

Substitute Errol Barnes gave Bermuda a scare late in the game when he beat Adams to a long ball, but his lob drifted high over the bar.

Antigua: J.Simon, G.Gonsalves, V.Spencer, S.Phillip, G.Dubblin, T.Simon, Q.Clarke, V.Edwards, S.Anthony (S.Jeffers 72 mins), D.Edwards (R.Isaac 82 mins), M.Tonge (E.Barnes 61 mins).

Bermuda: D.Adams, S.Burgess, C.Roberts, K.Roberts, T.Russell, S.Lewis, D.Boyles (J.Nusum 65 mins), K.Jennings, M.Wade (T.Carter 80 mins), P.Cann, S.Astwood.

Red card: George Dublin (Antigua) Yellow card: V.Spencer (Antigua) Men of the match: Meshach Wade (Bermuda); Quentin Clarke (Antigua).