Bermuda 0 Costa Rica 5 Bermuda gambled and lost last night in a valiant but vain attempt to earn a place in Saturday's Pan-Am soccer quarter-finals.

Knowing that only victory coupled with a Brazil win over Chile might be enough to see them advance, coach Mark Trott, as promised, threw caution to the wind and adopted an all-out attacking policy.

Bermuda enjoyed more shots on goals than during any of their previous defeats to Chile and Brazil, but their finishing was woefully inadequate.

Trailing by just a single goal at the break -- a penalty at that -- they were given a lesson in marksmanship in the second half as dazzling striker Sergio Morales, the tournament's top goalscorer, slammed two more.

And then after Bermuda had been reduced to 10 men when Dano Outerbridge was shown the red card for a second bookable tackle, Ronald Gomez rifled two thunderous goals to complete the rout.

But while the record will show that Bermuda lost all three of their qualifying games in these finals, failing to score a single goal and conceding eight, it won't reflect the fighting spirit which they displayed throughout.

At times last night Bermuda looked the better team, especially during the first half when they surged forward in search of that elusive first goal.

But disaster struck after only nine minutes when, with the defence left exposed, goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams was forced to bring down Morales inside the box. Adams managed to get a hand to Javier Delgado's spot kick but the ball rebounded off a post and rolled agonisingly across goal into the opposite corner.

Far from being demoralised, Bermuda continued to press forward at every opportunity, though strikers Ascento Russell and Shawn Simons rarely managed a threatening shot.

Instead gaps appeared in defence, and twice Bermuda were let off the hook, first when Gomez headed over from just six yards out and then when Morales found himself with only Adams to beat but lobbed his shot high and wide.

At the other end Outerbridge rifled a long range free kick over the bar, Stefan Mendes, starting his first game in these finals, failed to connect with a shot from 18 yards, and Otis Steede tried his luck with another long shot which failed to worry 'keeper Solorzano.

Ending the half just a goal down, Bermuda appeared still very much in the hunt. But as against Brazil two days earlier, their hopes were shattered immediately after the restart.

Making perhaps his only major error of the tournament, Adams tried to punch a cross out of his area but succeeded only in knocking the ball onto the crossbar. And on hand was that man Morales who gleefully headed the rebound home.

Trott brought on Quincy Aberdeen for Janeiro Tucker, and still Bermuda attempted open football.

Bermuda: Dwayne Adams (Timmy Figureido, 77 mins), Shawn Smith, Dano Outerbridge, Karl Roberts, Kimandi Binns (Andrew Rahman, 74 mins), Nakia Smith, Stefan Mendes, Janeiro Tucker (Quincy Aberdeen, 50 mins), Otis Steede, Ascento Russell, Shawn Simons.

Costa Rica: M.Solorzano, C.Aguilar, J.Delgado, R.Parks, V.Cordero, M.Solis, A.Sequeira, D.Valverde (J.Fonseca, 45 mins), S.Morales, J.Soto (V.Mesen, 55 mins), R.Gomez.

Referee: Argelio Sabillon (Honduras).

Men of the Match: Nakia Smith (Bermuda); Sergio Morales (Costa Rica).