On This Day in 2002, a Fury of Three First-Half Goals Was Too Much For Portugal in Group D at the World Cup
What a difference four years make. In 1998, the United States Men's National Team found itself isolated in a 12th-century French chateau, removed from the World Cup's energy and excitement. Things were different in 2002. They stood in the center of soccer's global spotlight, authors of one of the most stunning upsets in tournament history. The downtown luxury hotel in Seoul that housed the national team offered bagels in the lobby, and the players could stroll to an adjacent mall, similar to an American suburb. "It looks exactly the same," defender Tony Sanneh observed. "It's scary."
This urban immersion was no accident. U.S. coach Bruce Arena, the Brooklyn-born tactician who replaced Steve Sampson after the 1998 disaster, deliberately chose the location. "I'm not a great believer in being isolated," Arena explained. "I want the players to feel the energy and culture of Seoul and Korea, and the thrill of being at the World Cup."
That philosophy extends to the field, where Arena has transformed a once-tentative American squad into an attacking force. Earlier in 2002, the US scored four goals against El Salvador and Honduras and against Jamaica in a May tune-up, they exploded for five goals. Even in a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands in their final pre-tournament friendly, which was the first time they were held without a goal in seven matches, observers noted the Americans were no longer playing like intimidated underdogs.
"In 1998, we were lost," goalkeeper Brad Friedel explained before the tournament. "This time, the way the team is preparing, the spirit we have, we will get the results we need."
Few gave the Americans any hope as they entered this match. Following their last-place finish in France four years ago, and facing what defender Frankie Hejduk called "pressure, pressure, pressure" to elevate the global perception of American soccer, the U.S. squad entered without its injured captain Claudio Reyna and creative forward Clint Mathis. What's more, six starters had never played in a World Cup match. The inexperience hardly showed on that June 5 afternoon at the Suwon Stadium.
The improbable became reality just four minutes into the match. Earnie Stewart lofted a corner kick that Brian McBride headed sharply toward goal. Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia, a legend in his country but showing rust from 18 months lost to knee injuries, collided with a teammate while attempting to make the save. John O'Brien, making his World Cup debut, pounced on the rebound and slammed it into the empty net.
O'Brien, who plays professionally in the Netherlands, looked almost apologetic after scoring. "It seemed like there was a little mist, a weird stadium and colorful seats," O'Brien said later. "It was a weird night."
The weirdness continued in the 29th minute when 20-year-old Landon Donovan, one of Arena's bold youth selections, lifted a cross from the right flank. The ball glanced off Portuguese defender Jorge Costa's head and curled toward goal. Baia made the error of failing to protect the near post. His attempted punch sent the ball careening off the upright and into the net for an own goal.
"It's almost like it had eyes for the goal," marveled Donovan, who held up his hands on the field as if to say, "Can you believe this?" "I was watching, watching, watching and saying, 'Oh my God, it's going in.'"
By this point, Sanneh — often criticized for inconsistent play at right back — had effectively neutralized Luis Figo, the reigning world player of the year. The American found his creative side in the 36th minute with a stunning cross from the right flank. The ball traveled 40 yards, bending perfectly onto the head of McBride at the far post. Baia was caught out of position again, and McBride's diving header gave the Americans an astonishing 3-0 lead.
Portugal's attacking talent couldn't be contained forever. This was a team that had scored 33 goals during World Cup qualifying matches, led by the elegant Figo and a supporting cast of European club stars. Beto pulled one back for Portugal six minutes before halftime when O'Brien failed to clear a corner kick. The Portuguese pressure intensified after the break, and in the 71st minute, American defender Jeff Agoos inadvertently volleyed a Pauleta cross into his own net.
With the lead cut to 3-2 and nearly 20 minutes remaining, the Americans appeared physically and emotionally depleted. Making matters worse, center back Eddie Pope had to leave with leg cramps in the sticky heat. But just when it seemed the fairy tale might unravel, the Americans demonstrated newfound resilience. Veterans Cobi Jones and McBride joined with young stars Beasley and Sanneh to expertly kill the clock in the final five minutes. When the referee's whistle finally sounded, American players raced onto the field and jumped into each other's arms, celebrating their first World Cup victory since the 2-1 win over Colombia in 1994.
This one was decidedly more impressive. That game was played at home. This was won abroad, against one of the world's elite teams.
"Dating to the '90 World Cup, we've always had to play defensively," Mathis said before the tournament. "Now we have a more attack-minded team. In other World Cups, it was almost like we played for a draw. It's tough when you do that. To put pressure on teams, you have to go forward and get goals. That's how you win games."
Tonight, that aggressive philosophy paid historic dividends. The victory — arguably among the five greatest in U.S. soccer history alongside wins over Belgium and Paraguay at the 1930 World Cup, England in 1950 and Colombia in 1994 — immediately transforms the Americans' outlook in Group D. With South Korea's 2-0 victory over Poland on the previous day, the Americans suddenly find themselves in a position to advance to the knockout phase with a positive result against the co-hosts on Monday in Daegu.
"This World Cup is not over," Arena cautioned. "We've got to prepare for Korea, and our goal is to win that game."
"I think this victory will grab the attention of a lot of people in the United States," Arena said afterward, his typically stoic demeanor giving way to the faintest hint of satisfaction.
For a team that finished last among 32 teams four years ago, the transformation is remarkable. As goalkeeper Friedel, who was superb in maintaining calm during Portugal's frantic push for an equalizer, put it: "We're not going to dominate a game for 90 minutes. We're going to have to weather some storms. I think we can do that."
After tonight's performance, the rest of the world might finally believe him.
"We'd like to prove something to ourselves this time," Friedel said. "If we don't go through to the next round, it will not be because of off-the-field things. It won't be because we didn't give 100 percent on the field. It will be because maybe we weren't good enough on the day. I don't believe that will happen. The way the team is preparing, the spirit we have, we will get the results we need."
One historic result down. One giant step toward redemption taken.
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