A decision to go all out in search of an extra-time winner ultimately played into the hands of host nation Dominican Republic as they dashed Bermuda?s CONCACAF Women?s Gold Cup hopes in the Caribbean last night.

Deadlocked at one goal apiece at the end of regulation time, Bermuda threw caution to the wind and attacked in waves in search of the decisive goal in added time.

However, the Bermuda girls were twice caught short at the back by the Dominicans who capitalised on their numerical advantage with clinical precision on the counterattack.

Yet despite falling short of their Gold Cup qualifying objective, Bermuda coach Vance Brown praised his charges for their valiant effort in the Dominican Republic where they emerged victorious from two of their three Group A matches.

?The girls did very well . . . we had them on the ropes but the killer instinct was missing and I am very proud of this team,? Brown told .

The home team took the lead after 20 minutes on a breakaway after a through ball had pierced the Bermuda defence.

But after going into the break one down, Carrie Kenneth drew the teams level from the penalty spot to keep her impressive goal-a-game scoring streak intact and send the match into extra time when the Dominicans ultimately settled the issue.

Bermuda nearly snatched victory when a free kick was just barely saved by the Dominican ?keeper after Shonte Campbell had been brought down on a breakaway.

But there would be no denying the home team in extra time.

The Dominicans retook the lead in the first half of the extra period from the penalty spot after one of their attackers was judged to have been fouled in the box during a quick raid on goal which caught Bermuda lacking in numbers at the rear. They then put the match beyond Bermuda?s reach in the second period of extra time with a lob over the ?keeper after the local defence had again been exposed on the counterattack.

Brown was the first to admit his team paid a heavy price for over attacking.?I guess they caught us short at the back,? he conceded. Bermuda are due back home today.: K.Perinchief (goalkeeper), N.Dill (capt), S.Campbell, D.Ward, T.Swan, S.Babb, A.Smith, C.Kenneth, V.Bean, T.Darrell, E.Burgess.