Bermuda lost out to a better team on Sunday, according to Under-17 coach Kenny Thompson.

While admitting that his players demonstrated fight and determination during their 2-0 loss to Cuba in the second leg of the teams' World Youth Cup qualifier, Thompson conceded that much more was required against the Caribbean side.

"We didn't win the match, we tried our best but in the end the superior team won. Cuba were simply a superior team," said Thompson.

Despite the defeat, the coach felt his players had learned a lot from the two-leg contest.

"I'm proud of the effort that the players put in. They are a good team but in Cuba they found that the Cubans lifted their game a little bit more and this combined with the fact that the pitch wasn't conducive to good football, to what we are used to at the National Sports Centre, our players were going up against a lot," said Thompson.

"Going into the match I reminded my players that we couldn't use anything as an excuse if we lost. It was an occasion that called for an extra effort from us, our technique had to be higher than maybe what we usually require on a surface like the one we have at the National Sports Centre.

"On Sunday we saw the improved level of the Cuban team, they looked very composed and comfortable in possession and we didn't. But, nevertheless, I am very proud of them."

Questioned about Bermuda's defensive tactics, Thompson responded: "Again we had to look at the circumstances, we have a country of 60,000 going against one of half a million people. In football terms also we are small and when a small country goes against a big one like Cuba we have to play a little wait and go.

"I certainly don't think we played what I would call a defensive role, we just had to cover the important spaces in our half of the field and look for opportunities to play in the opponents' half whenever possible."

Bermuda's inability to get the ball forward and find their men up front proved to be one of their downfalls, and it was rare that Cuban defence was put under any pressure.

Consequently Bermuda were restricted to just one shot on goal while in contrast the Cubans were able to surge upfield with relative ease and pin down the Bermuda defence for long spells.

"The problem was that we didn't pass the ball forward in a controlled manner and so when there were opportunities in which we could have advanced, we were hampered by either by misdirected passes or just poor tactical action," said Thompson.

"The level that makes us successful in Bermuda may be successful at home against some countries, like in the St. Lucia match, but more is required against a team like Cuba.

"But in the end, as I said, it was a small country going against a big country and it's difficult for many people to understand that we just cannot go out and attack everyone."

Thompson felt that the large contingent of Bermudians travelling with the squad helped the players feel more comfortable both on and off the field, and he reckoned that everybody on hand would have appreciated the better quality of play produced by the hosts.

Sports Minister Randy Horton, who flew into Cuba on Saturday night, said it was a learning experience for the Bermuda youngsters while admitting that they had difficulty adjusting to the conditions on a day when they were overwhelmed by their opponents.

"I think it was a great learning experience for them but it was always going to be tough for them to play there in Cuba. I think the playing conditions were much softer, the field had more grass than what the players are used to playing on and it was always going to be tough on their legs," said Horton.

"I think that's what showed in the second half, the Cubans were much stronger than our players because of their conditioning. We held them at bay for much of the game, until half-way through the second half."