U.S. celebrates greatest win in 50 years

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SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) -- The United States celebrated its greatest win in over half a century on Wednesday, with fans hailing the shock 3-2 World Cup defeat of Portugal as proof that American soccer had come of age.

The United States, whose victory revived memories of their 1-0 defeat of England in the 1950 World Cup, won the game with three goals in the first 36 minutes from midfielders John O'Brien and Landon Donovan and striker Brian McBride.

"I think this victory will grab the attention of a lot of people in the United States," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.

Asked if if was the biggest U.S. victory ever, he replied: "In the modern era, I think you could argue that this is the best victory that the United States has had."

Soccer may be the world's favorite game but, to many Americans, it is a game played by children and women -- still eclipsed by baseball, basketball and American football eight years after their country hosted the World Cup finals.

American fans leaving the match in Suwon, South Korea, on Wednesday were ecstatic, seeing the victory as a sign that the men's game may be catching up with the U.S. women's soccer team, who won the world title in 1999.

"We came of age today," said Tyler Ferguson from Knoxville in Tennessee. "This was the best day ever in U.S. soccer at home, abroad, on the planet you name it."

Ramon Padilla from Sacramento said the win would make people in the United States sit up and take notice.

"There are a lot of sports in the United States and now there is a new one," he said.

Arena had his eyes on the next game on June 10 against co-hosts South Korea, who won their opener 2-0 against Poland on Tuesday.

"Our World Cup is not over and our goal is to make the second round," he said.

Goal scorer Brian McBride attributed Wednesday's shock Group D victory to an old college tactic.

His goal after 36 minutes, following strikes from O'Brien and Donovan, proved the killer despite a comeback from Portugal with goals from Beto Severo and an own-goal from Jeff Agoos.

'Milwaukee Rampage'

"The ball got wide to Tony [Sanneh] and -- we were joking about it in the locker room -- we played a Milwaukee Rampage right out of college," he said, referring to a minor team that they both once played for.

"We did it a thousand times. I took a step to the near post, lost my defender and he served a beautiful ball to the back post."

McBride added that a rearguard action in the second half ensured the United States three surprise points in their biggest win in the World Cup since the 1950 upset of England, a victory that left the country that gave birth to soccer shell-shocked.

"The guys came out, put the pressure on, took advantage of our chances. Second half we probably sat back a little bit but bunkered in and held them off," he said.

Portugal were expected to win the group comfortably after reaching the semifinals of the 2000 European Championships. They now trail South Korea, who beat Poland 2-0 on Monday, and the United States.

Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira said the United States created all sort of problems for his side.

"We already expected them to be very fit. We did not expect to concede any goals but in fact we did. What we tried to do was to get a draw but we didn't have any luck," he added.

Clifton Broumand, from Landover in Maryland, described Wednesday's game as a "cosmic role reversal" and a tribute to those killed in the Sept. 11 suicide hijack attacks on the United States.

"Today we were Portugal and they were the old United States," he said. "This was U.S. soccer's tribute to the people who died on Sept. 11."

Portugal coach Oliveira, like Arena, was looking ahead to the next match. "We now have to prepare for the next game and we have only one option which is to win both games," he said.

South Korea's victory in their opening match was their first World Cup finals win on their sixth appearance in the knock-out stage of the tournament.

"They are a very, very good team so we have to come out prepared," McBride said.

But the fans were already looking ahead to the second round.

"We're going to all the way through to that sweet 16," Tyler Ferguson predicted.

 

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