As the saying goes, this really was a game of two halves.

After a plucky first 45 minutes, Cayman Islands managed to go in at the break on level terms with El Salvador in this, their second World Cup qualifier in less than a week.

But after the interval – with the scores level at 0-0 – the home team ran out of steam and took a thrashing at the hands of the visitors.

The match finished in a 4-1 defeat leaving the hundreds of spectators heading home from the Truman Bodden Stadium disappointed.

But not as much as the home players on the pitch who now face a huge up-hill battle if they want to make it to the finals in Brazil come 2014.

If it wasn’t for the first-half heroics of Cayman keeper Ramon Sealey it could have been so much worse.

He made a string of top-draw saves in the first half to keep the scores level – and continued his top form in the second period.

But after analysing the pace and endurance of the young Caymanian team, El Salvador came out with a lesson plan, and took the Caymanians to school.

Captain of the Cayman Islands team, Ian Lindo, had his work all cut out for him, as the seasoned and experienced, “super fit” El Salvador players, made dizzying passes between him and his teammates.

During the second half, El Salvador’s attacks produced goals in the 51st and 55th minutes.

At 2-0 there was still some hope and the home fans finally had something to cheer about when Mark Ebanks was brought down in the box and the referee had no hesitation but to give a penalty on 74 minutes.

Ebanks himself converted and at that point a draw seemed on the cards as Cayman came back into the match.

But hopes of a point were dashed when in the 81st minute, then again four minutes into stoppage time, the visitors scored twice to complete the rout.

Next month Cayman host Suriname at home on October 7th knowing only a win will do if they want to keep their Brazil dream alive.

They then travel to El Salvador on the 11th.