WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A hard-fought ticket for the last 16 in the World Cup is normally considered a success worldwide, and even a historical turnaround for the United States against its last-place finish four years ago in France.

　　Yet, the Americans at home remained lukewarm without any celebration after its team booked the second-round ticket against Mexico in the 2002 World Cup by finishing second in the group, next to co-host South Korea but ahead of earlier favorite Portugal.

　　Only a few dozens U.S. soccer fans cheered up from bars in the morning as South Korea helped put the Americans through to the second round. And this time, they just chanted "Korea! Korea! Korea!" in Washington D.C., an unfamiliar word in the U.S. capital.

　　"We're lucky, we owe Korea, I guess, a little bit of thanks," midfielder Claudio Reyna summed up for all the U.S. fans at home, "We're through to the second round because of their result, not because of what we did. We needed a point today and we couldn't doit. We owe them a big favour because they went out and won."

　　Needing just a draw in their final opening round match, the United States suffered a 3-1 defeat against Poland. And South Korea carried them forward by beating Portugal 1-0 in the group's other match as the United States had four points against three forPortual who fired off the post and missed a pair of golden chancesin the dying minute to tie the game.

　　"I feel like I've aged five years in the last 20 minutes," graduate student Seth Kamens said in Washington's "Lucky Bar", oneof rare places for U.S. soccer fans to join together watching the game started at seven o'clock in the morning (local time).

　　Dave Bauer drived 56 kilometers to join the group as he explained that "we came all the way from Annapolis to watch the game here in (Washington) D.C. because no bars in our area were showing it."

　　Brian Jones, a clerk member of the American Bank at Courthouse,said "I knew the way the U.S. team qualified, it was a little bit awkward. I only watched the first half of the game because I had to make to the office on time."

　　"Anyway, we're through," said Jones, "And Mexico is a tough team, I don't think we can beat them."

　　The United States has an 9-9-28 all-time record against Mexico,but has won four of the last five games, including a 1-0 win on April 3. Although a frequent and bitter World Cup qualifying foe,the U.S. has never met Mexico in World Cup play.

　　To most Americans, the World Cup is too far away with a 13-hourtime difference, and is still being considered a sporting minnow behind baseball, basketball and ice hockey at home, and not a minority of people take it as a sport for women and children.

　　Only the die-hard fans keep hoping that the World Cup in Asia would power the sport forward at home and make the U.S. men's teamas popular as their women compatriots who won the world title in 1999.

　　"Americans are fickle. We only like a sport if we win it. That's why women's soccer is more successful," said Steve Pearcy. Enditem