WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : To Saudis, Victory Is the Bonus : Group F: Tears flow like gushers after 2-1 triumph over Morocco, the first in World Cup finals for the country.

Oh, there will be gifts. It will be a regular king’s ransom.

There will be currency, cars, the odd oil well. If a grateful royal family holds to tradition, Saudi Arabia’s stunning 2-1 World Cup victory over Morocco Saturday was all about cash and prizes.

Or was it?

It didn’t seem like it afterward in the Saudi locker room.

Instead of partying, some of the players were crying. Others were praying.

And it didn’t seem like it outside the Saudi bus.

The players refused to board before hugging and kissing dozens of visiting countryman, some who had also been crying.

And it didn’t seem like it over the heart of the green jersey of Saudi forward Sami Al Jaber.

He was asked about the gifts, which have enamored Americans ever since it was reported that the Saudis received $100,000 and a Mercedes simply for qualifying.

Jaber emphatically grabbed his shirt.

“This win was not for the money,” he said. “This win was for the soul.”

That soul is soaring today after the first World Cup victory in Saudi history and the first by a Middle Eastern team in 40 years.

“This win was for the hopes of our country . . . from the little boy to the old man,” Jaber said.

Using heart and wits to overcome deficits in athleticism and skill, the Saudis have a chance to carry those prayers to the second round with a victory or tie against Belgium in their Group F finale.

The Moroccans, winless in two games, will probably be on a plane to Casablanca by the second round.

“They got lucky,” said Moroccan defenseman Smahi Triki.

The Saudis feel there is more at work here. Is there an Arabic word for destiny ?

“We were 500 to 1, but dropping fast,” said Fahad Al Dahmash, Saudi team manager. “It’s very clear that it is God’s plan that we not only go to the round of 16, but to the round of eight.”

That being true, he certainly worked in mysterious ways Saturday.

The Saudis were outshot, 29-10. They had only four shots in the second half.

Goalkeeper Muhammad Al Deayea, who was devastated when his mistake cost them a tie in their opener against the Netherlands, was forced to make three diving saves in 10-minute span late in the game.

Yet it was a Saudi, not a Moroccan, who ended the afternoon by running around Giants Stadium bare-chested, waving his shirt and blowing kisses to the crowd of 72,404.

That would be Fuad Amin, who broke a 1-1 tie in the first minute of extra time at the end of the first half with a goal resulting from a trait that has been typical of the Saudis in this tournament.

The other team stopped working. The Saudis didn’t.

When the scoreboard clock struck 45:00, the Moroccans seemed to be satisfied with the 1-1 tie.

Amin, 21, who scored the Saudis’ goal against the Dutch, dribbled the ball near the penalty area and two defenders.

He looked left as if he was going to pass, then booted the ball right.

It sailed about 30 yards, somehow eluding both defenders before skipping past goalkeeper Khalil Azmi, who bought the fake and dived in the wrong direction.

“We were stupid, stupid,” defenseman Nacer Abdellah said. “We were waiting for the second half.”

Amin celebrated by running around the stadiums with his arms outstretched, his palms upturned, his eyes a portrait of wonder.

It was the same celebration dance done by Jaber, a forward who scored the first goal in the seventh minute on a penalty kick.

“This is us giving thanks to Allah,” Jaber said.

For the penalty kick, Jaber should also be grateful to the team official who gave him a tape of Morocco’s first-round loss to Belgium. He saw on the tape that he was faster than celebrated Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet, and so he raced past him at the first opportunity.

Naybet was beaten to the ball, so he tackled Jaber from behind in the penalty area, leading to Jaber’s penalty kick.

The Moroccans tied the score 20 minutes later after a brilliant charge by Ahmed Bahja, who outfought one Saudi defender in the corner, then faked out another before passing to Mohamed Chaouch, who chipped it in.

But it was the Saudis who had all the will. It is the Saudis who believe this is about much more than 11 men and a black-and-white ball.

“We may not have it in the body,” team manager Al Dahmash claimed, “but we have it in the heart.”