U.S. Still Has Work To Do

The United States could count itself lucky to escape with a tie Monday against South Korea. But the point they earned put the Americans in range of the second round of the World Cup.

Facing a Korean team inspired by tens of thousands of red-shirted fans, the Americans survived on brilliant saves by Brad Friedel. He even stopped a penalty kick in the 1-1 tie at Daegu, South Korea.

The tie left both teams needing a point in their final first-round game to advance.

"For us to play in front of 60-some-odd thousand people under those conditions and leave with at least a point was a good result," coach Bruce Arena said. "I'm going to take it and get out of here real quick and get our people prepared for a very diffcult opponent in Poland in the next game."

That will be Friday, and another tie will move the United States into the next round after it went 0-3 and finished last four years ago.

South Korea also can advance if it ties Portugal in its final match. The Portuguese beat Poland 4-0 Monday night in Jeonju, South Korea as Pauleta scored a hat trick in a downpour.

Portugal would advance if it beats the Koreans, however.

"Clearly an outstanding performance by Portugal," Arena said. "I said from the begining they're a dangerous team who has the potential to go far in this tournament."

In Monday's other game, Belgium tied Tunisia 1-1 in Oita, Japan.

The Americans led South Korea 1-0 when Clint Mathis, back from injury, took a pass from John O'Brien with his right foot and kicked it in with his left from about 12 yards in the 24th minute.

Friedel saved that lead temporarily by knocking away Lee Eul-yong's penalty kick in the 40th — the first saved penalty in the tournament. Jeff Agoos was called for bringing down Hwang Sun-hong in the penalty area.

The American goalkeeper dived to his right for the save.

"I felt that he was going to go that way for some reason," Friedel said. "Who knows why?"

South Korea, which dominated play, tied it in the 78th minute when Ahn Jung-hwan outjumped Agoos to head in a pass from Lee.

"They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half and it's hard to withstand that pressure," Friedel said.

South Korea's Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink, agreed.

"We outplayed them for much of the second half," he said. "I think we deserved to win, 3-1 or 4-1 even, because we created such beautiful chances."

Ahn appeared to be taking the goal as revenge for an Olympic speedskating gold medal awarded to American Apolo Anton Ohno after a South Korean was disqualified. He made a speedskating motion in his celebration.

"I guess it was on their minds. It wasn't on ours," U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said. "I guess they dedicated it to him, so that's nice."

The match was played under heavy security, because of worries about possible terrorism, and about anti-U.S. protests over political issues and the Olympic speedskating gold.

Violence erupted in Moscow on Sunday night after Japan's first victory in a World Cup kept Russia from clinching an early second-round place. The death toll rose to two Monday, and officials said 73 people were injured. Police said 8,000 fans were involved in the riot and some 113 people were detained.

Japan's celebrations over the 1-0 victory ranged from nearly 140 fans diving into a canal in the western city of Osaka to mild exuberance in Parliament.

Raouf Bouzaiene's 17th-minute free-kick tied the game for Tunisia after Marc Wilmots gave Belgium the lead in the 13th. Belgium has two ties, Tunisia is 0-1-1.

Meanwhile, the defending champions were worrying about survival into the second round.

On Tuesday, France must beat Denmark by at least two goals to avoid becoming the first defending champion since Brazil in 1966 to go out in the first round.

"It's not such a big mountain to climb," French defender Bixente Lizarazu said. "It's within reach of a French team that is playing a great match. We are used to scoring in every game, and even scoring several goals."

But he said the French are not used to playing without Zidane, who scored twice in the 1998 championship game. A thigh injury from a tuneup game kept him out of France's 1-0 loss to Senegal and 0-0 draw with Uruguay.

Zidane resumed full training with teammates on Saturday.