U.S. Is Looking to Make Its Move

Since 1972, the United States has lost only once in 21 home World Cup qualifiers.

The Americans, desperate for a victory, are banking on that history when they play Barbados tonight at Foxboro, Mass..

“The team obviously needs a win,” said forward Joe-Max Moore, who rejoined the national team for the first time since November. “To me, we’ve got to win all our home games. To me, this first home game in Boston is crucial.”

After a 1-1 tie at Guatemala and a 2-1 loss at Costa Rica, the Americans are last in their four-nation group with one point. Only the top two teams advance to next year’s six-team finals of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Since a 1972 loss to Mexico, the United States is 14-1-6 in home qualifiers, including 9-0-4 since a 1985 defeat against Costa Rica at Torrance.

In World Cup qualifying, the goal is to win home games and earn points on the road, so the Americans hope they’ll get nine points from their home games against Barbados, Guatemala (Sept. 3 at Washington) and Costa Rica (Oct. 11 at Columbus, Ohio).

They don’t want to be in a must-win situation when they play their last game of the regional semifinals at Barbados Nov. 15. Barbados and Guatemala are considered the weakest of the group.

“If we’re able to get three points in the next game, we’ll be no worse than tied for second,” U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said. “If we fall short of three points in either game, our task will be increasingly difficult.”

Barbados, which advanced to the semifinals by upsetting Cuba, is coming off a 2-0 loss at Guatemala. In its opener, Barbados stunned visiting Costa Rica, 2-1.

Brad Friedel is expected to start in goal for the Americans.

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Two days after blowing out Russia before an electric crowd a few miles away, the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team settled for a 1-1 tie with the Russians in a subdued, closed-door match at College Park, Md.

Only about 350 people, mostly from the University of Maryland, were in the stands, and the event and the quality lacked the usual energy of a full international match.

Natalia Barbashina and Joy Fawcett scored the goals, but they were overshadowed by a scary moment early when Michelle Akers, who doggedly worked through months of painful rehabilitation to make the Olympic roster, re-injured her shoulder.

Akers landed on the shoulder when she was taken down on a foul tackle from behind near midfield. She stayed in the game, but was barely able to lift her right arm and was taken out in the 28th minute.

“I took a fall, and when I braced myself to land, I jammed up my shoulder on one of the spots that’s still tender,” Akers said. “It hurts, but it’ll be fine.”

Akers said she will be able to play Sunday when the pre-Olympic tour continues with a game against Canada at Kansas City, Mo.

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U.S. vs. Barbados

* What: 2002 World Cup qualifying match

* Where: Foxboro, Mass.

* When: 5:30 p.m.

* TV: ESPN2 (live); Channel 52, KVEA (delayed, 11:30 p.m.)