SOCCER : Harkes’ Goal Gives U.S. Tie With Italy

The United States, continuing to show it can compete with the best soccer teams in the world, played a 1-1 tie Saturday with Italy.

Roberto Baggio, the world’s most expensive player, put the 1990 World Cup semifinalists ahead in the second minute, but then the Americans regrouped and John Harkes tied the score in the 23rd minute. It was the first goal for the Americans against the Italians in five games covering 58 years.

U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola, playing one of his strongest games, made good second-half saves against Pierluigi Casiraghi and Guiseppi Signori. And Thomas Dooley even had a chance to put the Americans ahead, but his header off a Paul Caliguiri pass went wide in the 73rd minute.

The Americans, completely outplayed by Italy in a 1-0 loss during the 1990 World Cup, held up their arms in triumph when it was over. The tie capped a week during which the Americans beat Ireland and Portugal for the first time and won the championship of this four-team exhibition tournament, known as U.S. Cup ’92.

The United States hadn’t scored against Italy since the 1934 World Cup.