Mexico . . . . (4) 5

Bermuda . . .(0) 0

Another comprehensive defeat, another error-strewn performance and another failure to score a goal.

Bermuda's World Cup dream lies in tatters after they slipped to their fourth defeat inside a week.

Victory over Mexico last night would have seen them finish in the top six of the Pan Am Cup, something that would have given them a spot at a World Cup qualifier later in the year.

The team has been building up to this moment all week, this was their raison d'etre. Defeats to Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina would have been forgotten in an instant if Bermuda had won.

They didn't, and they didn't deserve to either, because when it mattered the most they choked.

A brace from Jesus Castillo, and goals from Margarita Paredes, and Lilia Flores put Mexico four-nil up at half time, and ended the game as a contest.

Bermuda have been making basic errors all week; passing without looking, running into trouble, and moving without any clear idea in mind.

Last night was no different, but even then, a little bit of intensity might have got them through.

However some players barely seemed to break a sweat in the first half. And were only marginally better in the second.

All that would be less important if Bermuda could score a goal, but not even the prize of a top six spot could inspire them out of their toothlessness.

Goals conceded 47, goals scored 0, it says it all.

"I can't say I'm not upset. This was the game of the tournament for us," said Gareth Tavares.

"It was completely frustrating, conceding four goals in the first half wasn't good enough.

"I think we let ourselves down, we made basic errors, we kept giving the ball away far too easily and we gave the ball back to them when we had it.

"There were a couple of goalkeeper errors with near posts shots going in, it's critical, you can't let soft goals like that in. We've let in too many goals where the opposition haven't had to work too hard to get them.

"At half time I read them the riot act, and I let them know they had to go out there (and show some fight), they are playing for their country, and we had to go out there and score a goal.

"If we can't score goals then we can't win games, no matter how many we are leaking at the back.

"The second half we went out fighting far harder."

But by then it was too late, Bermuda were dead and buried. Jess Hollis did get a couple of shots on target, but they were straight at goalkeeper Sandra Contreras.

Somewhat inevitably a sloppy mistake in the Bermuda defence let Michel Navarro in for Mexico's fifth.

Liz Hartley took slightly too long on the ball, Navarro took advantage, slipped past goalkeeper Fiona Doe and hammered the ball home. It was a goal that summed up the entire tournament for Tavares' side.

Bermuda: F Doe (GK), J Hollis, E Frith, L Hartley, K Graham, H Ellison, J Bielby, K White, J McClure, M Troake, R Bardgett, J Smith, S Samuels, C DaCosta, K Masters, Z Phillip.

Mexico: ST Contreras (GK), JA Marin Castillo, E Garcia Escobar, S Cota Chavez, AF Valdez Figueroa, EG Felipe Cota, P Rico Sandoval, MM Zuleta Aguilera, L Hernandez Flores, M Hernandez Navarro, M Rodriguez Paredes, C Conejo Correa, J Valdez de la Cruz.

Umpires: A McClean (Trinidad), C Videla (Chile)