U.S. Nets Its Second Soccer Win

Two games and two wins. Things couldn’t be going any smoother for the United States as it attempts to advance to the regional finals of World Cup qualifying.

“To win two games is nothing if you don’t qualify for France,” U.S. coach Steve Sampson said after Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. “We have earned the respect of other CONCACAF nations, but we have to continue. I don’t think we can afford to look at the standings yet.”

Thomas Dooley scored in the 52nd minute and Eric Wynalda added a goal in the 84th as the United States (2-0) rolled in the second half - when it had the wind at its back.

The Americans, beaten by eventual champion Brazil in the second round of the 1994 World Cup, lead semifinal Group One of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with six points. The top two teams from each group will join Canada and Mexico in the six-team regional finals, which will produce three qualifiers for the 1998 tournament in France.

“We’re in the front of the group now, which is where we belong,” said Wynalda, whose goal was his U.S. record 27th in international play. “We just have to not get complacent now, stay up there. This is a long, tedious thing. We still have 14 more games” before the end of regional qualifying.

Dooley’s goal, from about 15 yards out, came moments after he just missed converting a corner kick from the left by Jeff Agoos. The goal was his first since a game-tying score against Mexico during last June’s U.S. Cup.

The fans at the U.S. opener rooted primarily for Guatemala last week at RFK Stadium, and Sunday’s crowd featured a very strong Trinidad and Tobago contingent.