i
Sports
The Battalion
Page 5 • Thursday, June 6, 2002
United States shocks Portugal in opener, 3-2
Ireland’s last-minute goal secures tie with Germany
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP)
— The U.S. team wasted no
time rebounding from the bot
tom of the soccer world.
The Americans scored in
the fourth minute, led 3-0 by
the 36th and held on for a stun
ning 3-2 victory over Portugal
in the World Cup opener for
both ted^ms Wednesday.
“We came out quick,” said
Brian McBride, who scored the
winner with a powerful header.
“The{/ are a very good team, so
we ^)ut the pressure on them.
We took advantage of our
chances and when they came
on strong, we held them off.”
Portugal is ranked fifth in
the world. The Americans
were the worst team at the
(998 World Cup, and did not
have offensive standouts
Claudio Reyna and Clint
Mathis, both injured, on
Wednesday.
But from the beginning at
Suwon, South Korea, the U.S.
team was the aggressor. With
John O’Brien’s early goal,
they already had matched their
scoring total in '98, when they
lost all three first-round
games, bickering all the way.
They did not stop producing
after O’Brien left-footed in a
rebound from close range. In
the 29th minute, a shot by
Landon Donovan deflected in
off a defender.
Then McBride converted a
cross from Tony Sanneh, and
even the Americans were mar
veling at their lead.
“I think Portugal was the
same way,” said O’Brien, one
of six American starters mak
ing their World Cup debuts.
Portugal quickly got one
back, then got a second-half
own goal when defender Jeff
Agoos deflected a cross past
We took advan
tage of our chances
and when they came
on strong, we held
them off.
— Brian McBride
U.S. forward
goalkeeper Brad Friedel. But
the Portuguese ran out of gas
and the folks back home who
stayed up late or got up early
to watch on television — the
game began at 5 a.m. EDT —
were rewarded.
“I think this victory will
grab the attention of a lot of
people in the United States,”
said U.S. coach Bruce Arena.
Ireland grabbed some
attention, too, with its last-
minute goal for a 1-1 tie with
Germany. The Germans
seemed set to be the first team
to advance to the second
round, but Robbie Keane
knocked home a backheaded
pass from Niall Quinn after a
long pass from Steve Finnan.
Keane celebrated with cart
wheels as hundreds of Ireland
fans cheered wildly in the
stands at Ibaraki, Japan.
Ireland coach Mick
McCarthy said, “We threw
men forward and it paid off. I
think we were the better side.
The stats will back it up. We
were the better team.”
They certainly were the
happier team.
“I’m extremely angry and
disappointed. When you’re 1-0
up with one minute to go and
concede a goal, it hurts,” said
German coach Rudi Voeller.
Russia beat Tunisia 2-0 at
Kobe, Japan, getting goals five
minutes apart by Egor Titov
and Valery Karpin, the second
on a penalty kick.
The two Americans and
one Russian aboard the inter
national space station were
informed promptly of their
teams’ victories.
“During the radio commu
nication sessions, flight con
trollers told the crew of all the
latest developments. And since
the crew is made up of real
soccer fans, the news was
received more than happily,”
said Viktor Blagov, deputy
director of Russian Mission.
Brazil’s Rivaldo was fined
$7,000 for faking an injury in
the late stages of his team’s
opening 2-1 victory over
Turkey.
FIFA cracked down on
Rivaldo under its “simula
tion” rule — pretending to
have been fouled.
“I wasn’t worried about
suspension,” Rivaldo said. “I
was the injured party. I don’t
even know why I was fined.
“In soccer, you have to be
sly. It happens a lot and it will
happen a lot in this World
Cup,” he said.
In the latest effort to make it
easier for fans to obtain tickets
and boost attendance at first-
round games, FIFA has decid
ed to allow telephone sales.
Tickets returned after over
seas fans were being offered
on the Internet, but high
demand was swamping FIFA’s
Web site. Half the tickets still
available for games in Japan
and South Korea will be sold
by telephone. In phone sales
for two games Wednesday and
one Thursday in Japan, thou
sands of tickets were snapped
up in minutes.
Slovenia coach Srecko
Katanec said Wednesday he
would resign at the end of his
teams’ World Cup campaign
following an argument with
star player Zlatko Zahovic.
“Katanec has decided that
he wilf remain at the helm of
the national team only until
the team is eliminated, and
then resign,” Slovenia Soccer
Federation president Rudi
Zavrl said.
W O R
Diagrams of the U.S. win over Portugal
The United States gave the soccer world a wakeup call Wednesday with a shocking 3-2 upset of
Portugal, the world’s fifth-ranked team. Here’s how the U.S. team scored its goals.
First goal
SOURCE - . Associated Press
Despite upset, there is still a long way to go for U.S.
2002 WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Next games - Thursday, June 6
Senegal vs. Denmark in Daegu, South Korea
France vs. Uruguay in Busan, South Korea
Saudi Arabia vs. Cameroon in Saitama, Japan
Group A
W
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Group E
W
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Denmark
1
0
0
2
1
3
Germany
1
0
1
9
1
4
Senegal
1
0
0
1
0
3
Ireland
0
0
2
2
2
2
Uruguay
0
1
0
1
2
0
Cameroon
0
0
1
1
1
1
France
0
1
0
0
1
0
Saudi Arabia
0
1
0
0
8
0
Group 8
w
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Group F
W
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Spain
1
0
0
3
1
3
Argentina
1
0
0
1
0
3
Paraguay
0
0
1
2
2
1
England
0
0
1
1
1
1
South Africa
0
0
1
2
2
1
Sweden
0
0
1
1
1
1
Slovenia
0
1
0
1
3
0
Nigeria
0
1
0
0
1
0
Group C
w
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Group G
W
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Costa Rica
1
0
0
2
0
3
Italy
1
0
0
2
0
3
Brazil
1
0
0
2
1
3
Mexico
1
0
0
1
0
3
Turkey
0
1
0
1
2
0
Croatia
0
1
0
0
1
0
China
0
1
0
0
2
0
Ecuador
0
1
0
0
2
0
Group D
w
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
Group H
w
L
T
GF
GA
Pts
South Korea 1
0
0
2
0
3
Russia
1
0
0
2
0
3
United States 1
0
0
3
2
3
Belgium
0
0
1
2
2
1
Portugal
0
1
0
2
3
0
Japan
0
0
1
2
2
1
Poland
0
1
0
0
2
0
Tunisia
0
1
0
0
2
0
By Jim Litke
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Right around the time of the
World Cup, Americans emerge
from a four-year slumber and
want to know why their team is
still not a soccer power.
United States 3, Portugal 2
will make the question a little
tougher to answer.
The players, coaches and offi
cials involved in U.S. Soccer were
flattered by the attention from a
nation awakening back home
Wednesday morning to one of the
most stunning upsets in World
Cup history. But they are tired of
covering the same ground.
They wish their countrymen
were paying attention in the
meantime, when it is easier to
chart the incremental progress,
instead of looking in only during
final exams. They wish they had
a tradition to refer to, a shared
past to celebrate, instead of
always having to build a new one.
“You never want to make too
much of one win and we still have
two more games to play in this
round,” said Robert Contiguglia,
the U.S. Soccer Federation presi
dent, during a late-night phone
call Wednesday from a hotel in
Seoul, South Korea.
“But we knew we had a good
team, good enough to play with
anybody. And so the wonderful
thing about this,” he added, “is
that we’ve proved it now to
everybody else.”
Even though it’s tempting, the
fate of soccer in America should
not be linked to the fate of the
U.S. soccer team in this World
Cup. Success or failure in a hand
ful of matches won’t change the
fundamental attitudes about soc
cer in America. At least not any
time soon.
The U.S. team got waxed four
years ago — finishing last among
the 32 teams that reached the
finals — and barely anybody
noticed. The team could pull off a
“Miracle on Grass” this time,
advance further through the draw
than even its biggest boosters
dare dream, and draw only a
slightly larger audience.
Kids in some cities and most
suburbs will continue playing
See Progress on page 6
Astros Field becomes
Minute Maid Park
HOUSTON (AP)
Punctuated by fireworks and a
locomotive steaming across its
outfield track carting oranges,
Houston Astros owner Drayton
McLane re-christened the Astros’
stadium Minute Maid Park
Wednesday.
The Minute Maid Co. is based
in Houston and since 1960 has
been a subsidiary of The Coca-
Cola Co.
“They are a very stable compa
ny and this was a big part of our
decision,” McLane said. “They
have the values and commitment
to the public but they also have
great fiftancial security.”
McLane said the deal was for
28 years for a price exceeding
$ 100 million.
The Astros’ new stadium
opened in 2000 as Enron Field but
McLane bought out the 30-year,
$100 million naming rights deal in
February and quickly removed
hundreds of signs bearing the
failed energy trading giant’s name.
Since buying out Enron, the
stadium had been called Astros
Field.
New signage will go up quick
ly. The Astros begin a six-game
home stand Monday starting with
the Chicago Cubs, and McLane
said temporary signage would be
in place.
“To do it the way it should be
done will take some time, but I
expect we’ll have the new signage
in place in about two months,”
McLane said.
The stadium is built on the site
of the old Union Station train
depot and the Astros kept that
theme in constructing the stadium,
including a replica locomotive that
tooted out a welcome to the new
See Astros on page 6
STUDENT
COUNSELING
SERVICE
Texas A&M University
Groups for
Summer 2002
at the
Student
Counseling
Service
Part of the Division of Student Affairs
Henderson Hall
979-845-4427
www.scs.tamu.edu
Texas A&M University has a strong insti
tutional commitment to the principle of
diversity in all areas. In that spirit,
admission to Texas A&M University and
any of its sponsored programs is open to
all qualified individuals without regard to
any subgroup classification or stereotype.
Gender in Relationships
Mondays
4:30- 6:00 PM
This group is for students who are currently or previously in
romantic relationships. The purpose is to explore and un
derstand how gender and socialization affect close relation
ships.
Eating Concerns & Body Image Issues Group
Mondays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Provides information and support for those trying to overcome
an eating disorder. Discuss topics related to eating concerns
such as the development of trusting relationships, expression
of feelings, and management of stress.
(An individual meeting with a group leader prior to attendance at group is required.)
Facilitator: Amanda Samson & Bai-Yin Chen
Facilitators: Lori Tagger &
Tom Burdenski
Anxiety Group
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:30 PM
An interpersonal group for students who suffer
from general or social anxieties. Students will
work on the impact of anxieties in their lives,
as well as explore the interpersonal meanings
of anxiety symptoms.
Facilitator: Carlos Orozco &
Jeanne Bulgin
Su
Bipolar Group
Tuesdays 3:30— 4:30
Provides support and information to
students diagnosed with a bipolar dis
order. Group meets weekly and is led
by a psychiatrist. Potential topics in
clude diagnosis, symptoms, medica
tions, and lifestyle issues/relapse pre
vention.
Facilitator: Nancy Stebbins
Dissertation/Thesis Support Group
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This group is for graduate students struggling
with the process of writing a thesis or dissertation.
Group topics include issues of competence, pro
crastination, anxiety, goal-setting, and bureau
cratic struggles.
Facilitator: Brian Williams &
Lori Tagger
s 2002
Biofeedback
Workshop
Tuesdays
Non-Traditional Women’s Group
Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
For women 23+ allows each member to enter
the group with her own unique issues, within a
group context. Helps individuals who are
wanting to develop healthier ways of dealing
with the stress of school, work, relationships,
personal problems and family issues.
Facilitators: Amanda Samson &
Carla Hilland
4:00—6:00 PM
One-session workshops that give an introduction to relaxation
techniques, including how biofeedback aids in relaxation. Indi
vidual follow-up consultation is available.
Interpersonal Growth & Exploration Group
Tuesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PM
This psychotherapy group is for students desiring to live more au
thentically with themselves and relate more genuinely with others.
Explore self-limiting life patterns and share with others through
honest self-disclosure in a safe, supportive atmosphere.
Facilitators: Ron Lutz & Tom Burdenski
Facilitator: Steve Wilson