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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Soccer Team Currently Beating Portugal

Aired June 05, 2002 - 05:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And you are waking up to World Cup soccer. And the early match pitted Russia, who is in the white, against Tunisia, in the orange. About 14 minutes into the second half, as you hear, Russia scores the first goal. And then, just a few minutes later Tunisia is called for the foul. Russia gets a penalty kick, and it's a goal, too. Russia wins 2-0.

American interest in the World Cup is on the rise today. It is the first game for the United States team now playing Portugal at this hour in South Korea. And that's where we find CNN's Tim Lister. He joins us live by phone from in the game. It's almost halftime, 3-1, the U.S.A. is up. This is incredible.

TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. It is quite incredible, Carol. And if you think that the United States last time they played in the World Cup managed one goal in three games, today it took them three minutes to get their first goal against one of Europe's best teams, Portugal. They followed that up with a second and a third.

The scorers for the United States, John O'Brien from Los Angeles, a rebound from a header after three minutes. And then Brian McBride also scored a terrific header just a few minutes ago. And Landon Donovan, who's only 20 years old, playing this first World Cup, he crossed the ball and they rebounded off the goalkeeper and into the net. Three-one, this is potentially one of the big upsets in World Cup history if the United States can hold on -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Are there many fans in the stand cheering for the United States team?

LISTER: There's more Portuguese supporters here than there are American supporters. But there is a big American contingent down at one end, a lot here from the 8th Army. And they've got a huge banner up that says (AUDIO GAP) contingent at the moment for very obvious reasons -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Got you. We sort of missed some of what you were saying there, but we got the gist. Security is very tight, too, today, right?

LISTER: Yes, security is very tight. We saw the American's team arrive here with a police escort. But a lot of bag searches, not much more than that. Inside the ground, I must say, it's pretty relaxed inside the stadium. And everybody is completely absorbed by what has become a dramatic game of soccer.

COSTELLO: Well go U.S.A.

Thank you, Tim Lister, we'll let you get -- of course it's halftime so he's going to go out and get some refreshment I'm sure. Thank you, Tim Lister, we'll get back to you later.

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