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Moore gives encore performance at Foxboro
Oct. 7, 2001
SportsLine.com wire reports
 
   

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Joe-Max Moore and the U.S. World Cup team enjoyed playing at home again.

Moore scored two goals in the same stadium where he spent 3½ seasons with the New England Revolution of the MLS. And the Americans had the fan support they missed in their previous home game in Washington, D.C.

The result was a 2-1 win over Jamaica on Sunday that qualified the United States for next year's World Cup.

"I have a special relationship with the fans," Moore said. "They really seem to support me when I'm here, and I love it. The team's done incredibly well. We've got a great history in this stadium and I think it was a smart move to play here."

The United States finished play at Foxboro Stadium unbeaten with a 7-0-3 record. That includes three World Cup wins. Next season, the stadium will be replaced by CMGI Stadium, being built next to it.

Foxboro Stadium was a huge improvement over RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., where Honduras had more support than the Americans in its 3-2 win Sept. 1.

One sign in the stadium Sunday said, "The Yanks Are Here." Another read, "Let's Go USA." Many fans had large American flags on a day when the United States attacked Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena told his players about that before the game, but Moore said he focused on the game once it began.

"It was great to be here," Arena said. "To have this kind of support made a difference. It was a different atmosphere than the last home game we had."

Another difference was the return of captain Claudio Reyna, who missed the last two games with an injury and the previous one with a suspension. Without their top midfielder, the Americans lost all three after starting 4-0-1.

On Sunday, his free kick set up Moore's first goal on a header in the fourth minute. He set up the second goal with a pass ahead to Landon Donovan, who was taken down by Tyrone Marshall in the penalty box.

Referee Rodolfo Sibrian called a penalty kick and Moore beat goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence with a medium-speed roller to Lawrence's left for the winning goal in the 81st minute.

"The players look up to" Reyna, Arena said. "They have a lot of confidence with him just stepping on the field."

Reyna played with the team for the first time since June 20 when the United States beat Trinidad & Tobago 2-0, its last win before Sunday. That also was played in Foxboro.

"It was a little bit strange to put on the shirt" Sunday, Reyna said. "It was an important game and I just wanted to start out strong. The whole team did.

"I was just glad to be there, to be fit again, and help the team."

Moore played at UCLA, then scored 35 goals in 75 games with the Revolution from 1996-99 and was its MVP in 1996 and `98. Then he moved to Everton in the English Premier League.

The two goals gave him five in his 19 World Cup games, tying him for fourth most in U.S. history. Those goals also were his first in the six games he's played in the current qualifying round.

The Americans play the last of their 10 games in the round at Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 11.

Moore had a hamstring problem before Sunday's game, and Arena left it up to him t to decide whether to play.

"I did have to go out a little bit early and try and just make sure I was healthy enough and did some sprints," Moore said, "but I didn't feel it once during the game."

He nearly scored early in the third minute of the second half when he took a pass from John O'Brien about 12 yards out and kicked it off Lawrence's left arm.

"I absolutely thought I had scored there," Moore said. "I thought I was going to get another opportunity."

He got it with the penalty kick and gave the crowd of 40,483 another chance to cheer for him.

"We said we're going to ride on his back," Arena said. "He loves playing here, and it was just a perfect setting for him."


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