CERRITOS/EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) - The 2D-United States (2-1-1) scored the crucial early goal and survived the rough play and constant 1G-Mexican (2-1-1) possession to win their first-ever knockout match, 2-0. Brian McBride and Landon Donovan scored their 2nd goals of the tourney and Brad Friedel made six saves in the US's first World Cup shutout in 52 years. The US will face 1E-Germany in the quarters. Rivaldo and Ronaldo each scored in their fourth consecutive match to lead 1C-Brazil (4-0) past a tough 2H-Belgium (1-1-2) team, 2-0. In what could be a classic matchup, Brazil and 2F-England will face off.

2C-Turkey (2-1-1) scored a 12th minute goal to take the home crowd out of the match and eliminated co-host 1H-Japan (2-1-1), 1-0. Turkey, who lost their first match, will meet Senegal, both first time quarterfinalists. Japan mimicked Mexico's fate, allowing an early goal and despite controlling most of the possession (MEX 67%, JPN 58%) couldn't do much with it. 1D-South Korea's (3-0-1) Jung Hwan Ahn missed a penalty kick in the fifth minute but redeemed himself with a golden goal in the 117th minute to upset 2G-Italy (1-2-1), 2-1. Korea was following Japan's footsteps (both allowing an early header goal off a corner kick) but Italy's defense was sloppy toward the end and Korea tied it up in the 88th minute to reinvigorated the home crowd. Italy went down a man after Francesco Totti picked up his 2nd yellow card on a questionable dive in the 104th minute. Italy, once again, had a goal taken away in extra time after an inconclusive offsides call. South Korea, first-time quarterfinalists, will meet 1B-Spain.

USA VIEWING: It was a fun time at the Staples Center Grand Reserve Club watching the USA-Mexico match hosted by the LA Galaxy. The one hitch was of the five or so big screens on ESPN, one small bar screen was on Univision which not only has a clearer picture but is 15 seconds ahead of ESPN's broadcast. So upon McBride's goal, we heard the 3-4 people cheer before we saw the goal. Although it was a good result, the channel was eventually changed back to ESPN so that we could all cheer together instead of in 15-second intervals.

QUARTERS: In 1998, six of the 8 quarterfinalists came from Europe with the other two from South America. This year, the four European teams (UEFA) and lone South American team (CONMEBOL) are joined by a North American team (CONCACAF), an African team (CAF), and an Asian team (AFC)- true diversity. The only soccer confederation not represented is Oceania (OFC) which failed once again to place a team in the tourney.

PKS AGAIN: Ahn's penalty kick miss was the second miss for Korea and continues the struggle players have had scoring on the PK since Brad Friedel seemed to do the impossible with his PK save vs Korea. But now, all the GKs are getting into it. Before USA's Brad Friedel- players were 10-for-10 (100%); After Friedel- 3-for-8 (38%). And including the ten PKs in Spain and Ireland's tiebreaker, it's 8-for-18 (44%).

SHUTOUTS AND NOTES: Five of 8 (62.5%) Round of 16 matches were shutouts as opposed to 23/48 (47.9%) in the first round. Korea's comeback win was just the eighth (8-33-13, 2 0-0 ties) in the tourney. Korea's golden goal was the second in the tourney so far and just third since it was adopted in 1998's World Cup.

JAPAN vs KOREA: South Korea was worried they wouldn't make it to the second round while Japan would and now they can claim props in Asia. While both suffered the same early fate (see above), Japan never (or was not allowed to) used its speed to its advantage. Maybe blame the rainy weather but Japan just didin't seem to have any heart (maybe energy) toward the end of the match. Korea on the other hand, kept running at the Italians and played with a vigor in trying to tie the match up and it paid off. Japan reminded me of France (vs Denmark) after luck just seemed to be going against them, they both pretty much resigned in the last five minutes or so doing errant passes and useless long balls. They both didn't seem that upset they lost. And that was disappointing. Experience and compeition is probably what doomed Japan. They fought well against Belgium, but then survived against an old Russian team where after leading 1-0 it seemed like Russia was on a power play for the rest of the match, and did not play well against a weak Tunisia team that had already counted the match as a loss. Japan may have been better off playing CONCACAF champ Costa Rica (who finished 3rd in Group C) to fire up Japan's juices as some had predicted Japan would win vs an injury-riddled Turkey team. South Korea, meanwhile, outplayed a European team (Poland), dominated but only tied against favored USA, and shocked fifth-ranked Portugal. No one expected them to beat Italy and yet they did. And no one will expect them to beat Spain. The underdog factor is a great motivator.

GOLDEN GOAL: Is there anything more exciting than the golden goal in soccer? Senegal and Korea's wins were just classic. I've heard some European leagues want to go back to old "doesn't-make-any-sense 30 minutes of extra time, score as many goals as you like and we'll see who has the most at the end" method. Why would we want to see a team score in extra time, let's say in the 95th minute, AND then watch defensive soccer for the next 25 minutes? But then again, Europe has always been a backward continent with all their communists, socialists, pro-taxation politicians, and activists. Hopefully, FIFA won't follow suit. Wait, here's a quote from UEFA officials:

"UEFA has made the decision after consultation with top European coaches, who felt the system put too much pressure on players."

Okay, now they're wimps as well. Geez.

Five people picked good ol' USA and the only change was FREDDYD now can't finish higher than 3rd place. Despite everyone picking Brazil, CRESTFIELD WAX PAPER, TOM, and PINKBUBBLES needed Belgium to win and become the sixth thru eighth victims in the pool. BERNISAM UNITED FC had an interesting Monday. She was already guaranteed two wins as she had USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Belgium in the Quarterfinals. Of course that meant she had no stake in Tuesday's matches. Ten others picked both Brazil and Belgium.

In the unlikely matchup, five had Turkey (3 had Japan) and this knocked out BERN'S DA BOMB '02 and bumped DIMPLES to no higher than 2nd. Korea's win helped BERNISAM maintain first place and eliminated FREDDYD and THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA (2 of 20 who had Italy). Just six have a chance at first place with BERNISAM with 50-50 odds. She's also virtually guaranteed money (96.9%) but seven others have better than 20% chance of winning something. No one has both finalists alive while only six have their champion still playing (and all, except EEK has a chance for 1st place).

BERNISAM was the only person to get 5 quarterfinalists correctly and five others had four. MAN EAT DOG WORLD, THE MM, and CRESTFIELD WAX PAPER only got 2 of 8 correct. MAN EAT DOG (did I do that badly??) and CRESTFIELD join BECK'S LFET FOOT and SPERM JELLY DONUTS in the exclusive 0-for-the-Final-Four club and with the way things have been going, they may not be alone after Friday and Saturday's matches. RUSSO was the only one in 1998 to do this infamous feat. So CRESTFIELD finishes with an HWCI-record low of 58 points.

As for the standings, BERNISAM leads with 83 pts and LUIS ENRIQUE'S ARMADA (79) has charged up to second and still has his champion (Spain) alive. ROCKY MTN SOCCER (78) is slowly drifting downward after leading for much of the pool. He still has a 60% chance of winning money, though. HOOTY MCBOOB (74) is hanging tough while PUNA (72) and her Brazil pick leave her in good position in fifth. BERN'S DA BOMB '02, despite being in 6th place, has been eliminated while EEK (58), tied for last place, still has a chance to win 3rd. THE FLYING ELVI (19th, 64) is flying low but is the only person to pick Germany (who plays the USA) to go all the way. Who will he root for?

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No Agoos, no goals allowed- coincidence, I think not...
Scott HW