Soccer: US slip through despite hammering

1:30am

TAEJON, South Korea - The United States have been hammered 3-1 by Poland in their final World Cup group D match but still made it to the second round of the competition through the back door.

The Americans go through in second place with a point to spare behind South Korea, who handed the United States a lifeline on Friday by scoring a late winner against Portugal in the group's other match.

News of Korea's goal was greeted with cheers from virtually everyone inside Taejon's World Cup stadium -- Koreans and Americans alike. Even the Poles, their side eliminated from the competition, joined in.

But for most of an open, exciting game, the United States appeared to have blown their chance of a place in the last 16 against a Poland side which bore no resemblance to the one which lost their opening two matches without scoring.

The US skipper Claudio Reyna said: "We're lucky. We owe Korea, I guess, a little bit of thanks but a lot of teams get through with four points. In the past we've been unlucky sometimes and I think overall we deserve to get through.

"We're through to the second round because of their result, not because of what we did. We needed a point today and we couldn't do. We owe them a big favour because they went out and won. "We're not happy with the way we were beaten today but we'll take it."

US coach Bruce Arena added: "At the end of the day, I don't think anybody could pick the results in our group. I would be crazy to make any predictions from here...there will be more surprises down the way.

"We know (next opponents) Mexico very well, they are an outstanding team and will be very difficult opponents on Monday."

Polish coach Jerzy Engel said: "The boys didn't understand what it took to be in the world championship until it was too late. But today we wanted to show we belong to the world family of soccer.

"To win today was good for us psychologically. We understand now that we can win."

Poland struck twice in the first five minutes to stun their opponents.

Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe scored their first with a fierce shot off the underside of the crossbar after his initial header from a corner kick had been blocked.

Two minutes later, Jacek Krzynowek found space to cross from the left and striker Pawel Kryszalowicz beat US centreback Jeff Agoos to the ball to turn a first time shot past goalkeeper Brad Friedel from close range.

Between the two goals, in an astonishing opening few minutes, US midfielder Landon Donovan had a goal disallowed.

The 20-year-old midfielder was adjudged to have fouled defender Arkadiusz Glowacki just before he headed the ball into the net.

The American players swarmed around Chinese referee Lu Jun to protest about the decision, and some of them still appeared to be distracted as Poland surged up to the other end of the pitch to score their second.

The Poles almost grabbed a third midway through the half when forward Maciej Zurawski drove a low shot off Friedel's legs and on to the keeper's right hand post.

Poland added a third in the 66th minute when Marcin Zewlakow, who had been on the pitch for less than a minute, scored with his first touch -- a header from a cross from the Polish left.

The US looked down and out until the news came through from the Korean match to propel them into the second round.

Friedel celebrated his side's qualification by saving a Zurawski penalty in the 76th minute after Kryszalowicz had been pulled down by Tony Sanneh.

It was his second penalty save of the competition.

Then with seven minutes to go, Donovan got some consolation for his disallowed goal when he pulled back a late goal for the US after finding space in the Polish area.

- REUTERS

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