World Cup, Or Bust! Finally, United States Earns A Trip To Soccer’s Main Event

The American players and officials who danced, sang off key and exchanged kisses weren’t so much celebrating a soccer game Sunday.

They were reveling in affirmation.

Alas, the United States has qualified for World Cup 1998 in France.

The Americans clinched a berth with a 3-0 win over Canada at modest Swangard Stadium. The U.S. players say they have proven they deserve to keep company with the world soccer’s elite at next summer’s big party.

It was a fifth-minute goal by Claudio Reyna, secured by two late tallies, that capped a 13-month qualifying process and hoisted the Americans into a third consecutive World Cup.

But the United States qualified for World Cup 1990 largely because region giant Mexico was ineligible, and they were automatic invitees as hosts in 1994.

So while the United States can’t yet pretend to be a Brazil, a Germany or even a Mexico, its team can now dress the part of a Scotland, or a Colombia, international soccer’s second tier.

“This one we earned,” said forward Eric Wynalda, smelling of champagne. “We proved we belong with the best.”

As for the match, it was lots of substance with no style. Credit the Americans for a road win, but they acknowledged lacking cohesion (once again). Roy Wegerle’s breakaway goals in the 81st and 90th minutes skewed the result.

“We kept calm and finally scored some goals,” said oft-criticized U.S. coach Steve Sampson, who promised better from his team at France ‘98.

Reyna’s critical goal was a tad besmirched; two U.S. players appeared to be offside when the play began on a meek Canadian clearance.

Forward Joe Max-Moore, the hardest U.S. worker Sunday, leaped to intercept the clearing effort, which bounced to Wegerle. Running hard, Wegerle drew goalkeeper Paul Dolan, then passed into the middle.

Reyna, the New Jersey native who now is occasionally fulfilling his promise as the future U.S. playmaker, spun and shot from 8 yards into the unguarded goal.

“I just tried to exhibit some goal-scoring touch, which I don’t have,” he said.

Well before kickoff, the Americans were told of Costa Rica’s tie with Mexico, the first of a three-part equation that would clinch a U.S. berth Sunday.

During their match with Canada, they were kept abreast, via a U.S. State Department hookup, of Jamaica’s bid for a win or tie at El Salvador. Good news from Jamaica - the Reggae Boyz led El Salvador before finishing with a 2-2 tie - filtered to the U.S. players periodically.

Alexi Lalas and Marcelo were determined, if ungraceful, in the middle of the U.S. defense. Eddie Pope, the American’s fast-rising star, was unyielding on the defensive right side.

Except for some shaky moments on corner kicks, U.S. Soccer officials were borrowing American flags from fans to drape around the players in the post-game celebration.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS The 23 nations that have qualified for the 32-team field at 1998 World Cup, to be played in France from June 10-July 12 (x-automatic berth): Europe: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Englnad, x-France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Scotland, Spain. South America: Argentina, x-Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay. Africa: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia. Asia: South Korea. North and Central American and Caribbean: Mexico, United States. Oceania: None.