Football: American glee

A WINGER from a place called Humble scored a stunning goal to set the United States on their way to a 6-0 humbling of the European champions, Turkey, in their opening Group C match at the Fifa / Coca-Cola World Youth Cup in Melbourne yesterday.

The Americans were roused by their pre-tournament rating as 50-1 outsiders, according to their British coach, Bobby Howe. The Texan Imad Baba gave them the lead with a rasping free-kick after 21 minutes and it was 3-0 by the 30th. Chris Faklaris scored the tournament's first hat-trick, and Miles Joseph helped himself to two.

Turkey had Oktay Derelioglu sent off for dissent five minutes after the interval with the Americans already 4-0 ahead.

The South American champions, Brazil, were also disappointing in their Group D match against Saudi Arabia, drawing 0-0 and having Pereira sent off in the 73rd minute for a second offence. Trying to head the ball out of the Saudi goalkeeper's hands has cost Pereira his place in the next match, against the group leaders, Mexico. They beat Norway 3-0, with winger Vicente Nieto scoring twice and his Unam club-mate, Jesus Olalde, completed the scoring.

FIFA / COCA-COLA CUP (Australia):

GROUP A (Canberra): Russia 2 (Zazulin 1, Karatayev 37) Cameroon 0. Friday: (Sydney) Australia 2 Colombia 1.

GROUP B (Brisbane): Germany 1 (Jancker 89) Portugal 0. Ghana 1 (Ahinful 73) Uruguay 1 (Correa 34).

GROUP C (Melbourne): England 1 (Pearce 84) South Korea 1 (S Watson og 32). Turkey 0 United States 6 (Baba 21, Joseph 26, 73, Faklaris 30, 47, 89).

GROUP D (Adelaide): Mexico (Nieto 44, 71, Olalde 84) 3 Norway 0. Brazil 0 Saudi Arabia 0.