In the words of coach Kenny Thompson, the ?mathematics are very simple?.

?Bermuda 1 El Salvador 0, that?s what it will take,? said a beaming but hugely relieved Thompson as his weary warriors left the pitch at the end of Sunday?s heart-stopping first leg match at the Cuscatlan Stadium.

Acutely aware of the importance of John Barry Nusum?s away goal, Thompson knows if Bermuda can squeeze out a narrow victory on home turf this coming Sunday, they will put themselves on the brink of the most successful World Cup campaign in Island history.

?It?s quite simple, 1-0 at home and we win the match,? said Thompson.

?I think the smile of my face tells part of the story. We?re always disappointed to lose but at the same time we have to put it into perspective.?The match was very, very difficult. But now we?ve lost 2-1 we have a chance. We have an away goal which could be very valuable to us.?I have to say I?m very, very proud of the players because the match was so difficult and they really had to dig and find all the mental strength they could. And they did, they found it.

?We have to be pleased that we stand a chance back home.?

While concerned by the injuries to both front men, Shaun Goater and John Barry Nusum, as well as Stephen Astwood, who came on for Nusum but then had to be substituted himself after suffering a knock, Thompson said he believed there was sufficient depth in the squad to pose El Salvador some serious problems come Sunday.

Of the injuries, he commented: ?We have to give it a day and see what the reaction is by Tuesday (today) but to be honest I think Shaun will struggle, and John with a groin injury, there?s a possibility he will struggle also. Stephen, I think, will be ok.

?But with some of the potential replacements we have ? Ralph (Bean) and Clevon Hill back home... and we didn?t get to see Kaywon (Dill) today. I think back home these players can be a little bit more dangerous.?Then there?s also Meshach (unable to travel because of a visa problem) who will make a difference.

?On this pitch (in El Salvador) you need a little more strength. You certainly need a Shaun, you certainly need a Stephen (Astwood) and a John Barry. But I think on our own pitch we can make do with people like Ralph and Kaywon and Clevon.?

Defender Kevin Richards made another big impression during Sunday?s match, recovering surprisingly well from an injury which had kept him out of the previous warm-up game against Manchester City?s youth squad.

Listed as doubtful just a day before the game, he played the entire 90 minutes, coming through with flying colours.

?Kevin did very well,? said Thompson. ?But all of the defenders must be praised. They were under a lot of pressure. Early on they found it difficult to solve the problems but they adapted very quickly and made the adjustments and grew in strength.

?El Salvador had one or two chances they didn?t put away but we also had some chances we didn?t convert.

?Overall, we?ve got over this difficult hurdle away from home and next Sunday the mathematics become quite simple.

?The players will be tired but we have to get back to it on Tuesday (today) and get some recovery activity. Endurance wise they will be better off for this match. They went beyond what they were used to and next week on the faster pitch we can look a little bit better and a little bit faster.?