Soccer Stirs California Crowd

More than two dozen people were arrested Thursday when a disturbance erupted as more than 1,000 fans crowded downtown streets to celebrate Mexico's advance to the second round of World Cup soccer. No injuries were reported.

Revelers tried to rock a transit bus, bashed a pickup truck, and jumped on cars. Some store windows were broken, and there was minor vandalism.

About 320 officers, 180 sheriff's deputies, and those from neighboring police departments helped Huntington Park police as the boisterous crowd gathered in the small city southeast of Los Angeles.

Police marched elbow to elbow down streets and fired devices that cause flashes of light, smoke, and loud noises in an effort to scatter the crowd.

More than 30 people were arrested for various crimes, mostly for misdemeanor failure to disperse, said Deputy Bob Killeen.

Killeen said officers were able to pinpoint "a small element of this crowd that is out there causing trouble."

The celebration began about 9:30 a.m. and continued for hours, even after officers blocked a dozen intersections and ordered people to go home. As night fell, the crowd swelled again and officers blocked two intersections and planned once more to thin the crowd. More arrests were expected.

At the World Cup competition in France, Mexico rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the final 15 minutes to tie the Netherlands 2-2 Thursday, qualifying both teams for the second round.