Yugoslavia celebrates

Yugoslavia rarely moved out of second gear as they cruised to a 1-0 victory over the United States last and secured their place in the second round. The Yugoslavs' victory at the La Beaujoire stadium gave them second spot in Group F behind Germany. They will now face Group E winners Holland in Toulouse on Monday.

The Yugoslavs scored in only the fourth minute when US goalkeeper Brad Friedel could only block a fierce free-kick from Sinisa Mihajlovic and defender Slobodan Komljenovic, lurking near the far post, was free to bend low and steer the ball home with his head.

It was a disappointing start for Friedel, playing in his first World Cup finals match. From the time they scored, Yugoslavia seemed content to settle for a one-goal margin - despite coach Slobodan Santrac's statements before the match that they would go flat out for goals.

The United States, who lost their opening two matches, were already eliminated from second-round contention. They went into the match with their players split over whether coach Steve Sampson should be sacked or retained following the team's failure here.

Their Yugoslav-born midfielder Preki, desperately disappointed not to start against the country of his birth, was among Sampson's more vocal critics, but he did get to play the final 33 minutes as a replacement for Joe-Max Moore.

The Americans started the game brightly and a cross from Frankie Hejduk floated onto the post with Yugoslav goalkeeper Ivica Kralj helpless after just 22 seconds.

The underdogs played some positive attacking soccer, creating several other half-chances in the opening 45 minutes, although they were let down by poor finishing.

Yugoslavia managed to create the more direct scoring chances and in the 17th minute Friedel had to get down smartly to stop an angled shot from Dejan Stankovic. The American goalkeeper also did well to block a fierce shot from Savo Milosevic after 30 minutes.

Vladimir Jugovic blasted the ball over the bar after a clever 56th-minute move, but chances were few and far between after the break.

Despite winning the match, the Yugoslavs suffered a blow when striker Prerag Mijatovic limped off the field after aggravating an injury to his left knee he suffered in training. He could be a doubtful starter for the match with Holland.

His absence was compensated for by the return, as a second-half substitute, of star forward Dejan Savicevic, who missed Yugoslavia's opening two games through injury.

The Yugoslavs did have one uncomfortable moment five minutes from the end. Jugovic climbed all over Cobi Jones to concede a freekick on the edge of the area, but Preki's shot was off target.

While the match was played in a sporting spirit despite the political differences between the two sides, a large group of Yugoslav supporters booed the US anthem. The Yugoslavs, in turn, were jeered by the rest of the crowd for their refusal to participate in the Mexican wave.