Soccer: US within sight of second round

TAEJON, South Korea - The United States are within sight of the soccer World Cup's second round and will kick themselves if they fail to reach it in their final group D match against Poland tomorrow.

A famous 3-2 victory over Portugal and a 1-1 draw against co-hosts South Korea in front of 60,000 raucous home fans have left the US needing just one point to be sure of a place in the last 16.

They could also edge through if they lose, but that will depend on what happens in the match between South Korea and Portugal, which kicks off at the same time.

Poland have been one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament, losing 2-0 to the Koreans and 4-0 to the Portuguese to suffer an early elimination from the tournament.

But US coach Bruce Arena is expecting a tough encounter, with the Americans again likely to have the crowd on their backs.

"I expect the game against Poland to be a very different game," Arena told reporters. "The pressure's off them now. We need to play this game without any outside distractions. The objective is to get at least one point to qualify.

"I can't imagine we'll have a favourable crowd," Arena said. "The Korean spectators will be cheering for Poland."

The United States are likely to field a similar side to the one that held the Koreans, with their penalty-saving hero from that match, Brad Friedel, between the posts again.

"The South Korean fans were fantastic for them," Friedel told reporters. "It wasn't a hostile crowd, but it was like playing against a 12th man."

With nothing at stake, Polish coach Jerzy Engel may opt for changes to the side which capitulated against the Portuguese, and he will definitely be without suspended midfielder Piotr Swierczewski.

This could be Engel's last match in charge, he himself acknowledging this week that his side's dismal World Cup performances had put his position in jeopardy.

Probable teams:

Poland (4-3-3): 1-Jerzy Dudek; 20-Jacek Bak, 15-Tomasz Waldoch, 6-Tomasz Hajto, 4-Michal Zewlakow; 10-Radoslaw Kaluzny, 17-Arkadiusz Bak, 18-Jacek Krzynowek; 21-Marek Kozminski, 11-Emmanuel Olisadebe, 9-Pawel Kryszalowicz.

United States (5-4-1): 1-Brad Friedel; 2-Frankie Hejduk, 4-Pablo Mastroeni, 12-Jeff Agoos, 22-Tony Sanneh, 23-Eddie Pope; 5-John O'Brien, 8-Earnie Stewart, 17-DaMarcus Beasley, 21-Landon Donovan; 20-Brian McBride.

Referee: Jun Lu (China)

- REUTERS

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