DATE=6/1/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-290404

TITLE=WORLD CUP:JAPAN WRAP (L)

BYLINE=STEVE SCHY

DATELINE=YOKOHAMA, JAPAN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: World Cup football got off to an exciting start in Japan Saturday, as Group-E's Cameroon played the Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 draw in the opening match in Niigata, while Germany crushed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in Sapporo. V-O-A's Steve Schy is in Japan to cover the World Cup and has more.

TEXT: Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o (EH-too) engineered the first goal of the opening match, dribbling through Ireland's defense to set up a wide-open Patrick Mboma. The 39th minute goal gave Cameroon the 1-0 lead.

Ireland pressured for the equalizer to start the second half, and it paid off in the 50th minute, as Matt Holland drove an 18-meter rocket into the net to tie the game. Neither team took advantage of later scoring chances, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Cameroon coach Winnie Schaefer says he expected his team to play well.

/// SCHAEFER ACT (starts in German with translation) ///

A surprise, who knows, but at least not to underestimate the African teams, who represent Africa with dignity and verve.

// END ACT ///

In the late match in Sapporo, Miroslav Klose (KLO-zeh) led Germany's attack with three goals, as the Europeans blasted Saudi Arabia 8-0. The Germans controlled the match from the opening kick-off scoring four goals in the first half, and four more in the second as they cruised to the easy victory. Germany moves to the top of Group-E's standings with three points, while Ireland and Cameroon each have one. Covering the World Cup in Japan, this is (Signed)

/// REST UNVOICED OPT ///

Two World Cup football matches are set to be played in Japan Sunday in Group-F, the so-called "Group of Death." Two-time champion Argentina plays Nigeria in Ibaraki (1:30 AM EDT), while Sweden goes up against England in Saitama (5:30 AM EDT).

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