The United States was overwhelming at the start Wednesday and Ireland was brilliant at the finish, leaving those two countries with much to celebrate and giving the World Cup an unexpected look.
In a tournament already filled with surprises, the Americans delivered a huge one on another humid evening in South Korea by registering three goals during the first 36 minutes in Suwon and then hanging on for a 3-2 victory over Portugal -- the fourth-ranked team in the tournament.
"I never imagined we would lose," Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira said.
A few hours later, Germany was on the verge of becoming the first team to qualify for the second round only to see Robbie Keane score in the final moments of stoppage time in Ibaraki to earn Ireland a 1-1 tie.
The Germans, therefore, have work remaining to clinch a second-round spot while Ireland dramatically improved its chances of advancing.
In the day's opening match, Russia scored a 2-0 win over Tunisia in a game that could have been much more one-sided.
Portugal came into the World Cup as a potential threat to go all the way. It scored more goals in European qualifying than any other team and won a group that included the Netherlands and Ireland. Of the teams competing in the event, Portugal trails only France, Brazil and Argentina in the world rankings.
But 36 minutes into Wednesday's match, the United States had a 3-0 lead. Although Portugal got a goal back before the end of the first half, and although American Jeff Agoos put the ball into his own net in the second, the Americans held on to put another dent in European soccer.
France, a decided favorite to repeat as World Cup champion, failed to score a goal in the opening match of the tournament in losing to Senegal last week. Croatia, the third place team four years ago, lost to Mexico. Poland was thoroughly beaten by South Korea. Belgium had to settle for a draw with Japan. And now Portugal has fallen to the United States.
"It wasn't our first time to beat a big team," said American coach Bruce Arena. "We came here to win, not just to participate. This victory will surely grab the attention of a lot of people. However, the World Cup is not over. We have to make ourselves ready for strong opponents. Our goal is going to the second round. In order to do that, we need more points."
John O'Brien put in a rebound in just the third minute to give the United States the lead and Portugal was further shocked when a cross by Landon Donovan hit the head of Portugal's Jorge Costa and slipped past goalkeeper Victor Baia for what was registerd as an own goal.
When Tony Sanneh's cross was headed in by Brian McBride, the Americans had a 3-0 lead.
Not since the first World Cup in 1930 had the United States scored three goals in a game and the Americans' win was their first over a European team in a World Cup in 52 years.
Although the United States played in the three previous World Cup tournaments, it had just one win to show for its efforts -- a victory over Colombia on home soil in 1994 that led to a second-round appearance. Four years ago, however, the Americans did not earn a point and finished last in the tournament.
With the second round now in sight, the United States will take on South Korea next Monday with the winner virtually certain to move on to the next round. Even a loss would not doom the Americans' chances since they would still have an opportunity to pick up three points against a Polish team that looked ordinary against South Korea.
The United States and Portugal were the last two teams to play a game in the World Cup while Germany and Ireland were the first to play a second game.
And that contest appeared headed Germany's way thanks to a goal by Miroslav Klose in the 19th minute. Klose scored three times in Germany's 8-0 smashing of Saudi Arabia last Saturday and he headed home a long pass from Michael Ballack to put his team in front against Ireland.
Goalkeeper Sebastian Kehl kept Germany ahead with a series of acrobatic saves in the second half, but just as the referee was beginning to look at his watch in stoppage time, Ireland came up with the tying goal.
Niall Quinn headed a ball into the box which Robbie Keane was able to control. He let loose a shot that Kehl was able to deflect, but the ball sailed up, hit the underneath side of the crossbar and bounced into the goal.
Germany is still in front of Group E with four points while Ireland has tied both Cameroon and Germany for two points. If Germany beats Cameroon in its final game and if Ireland downs Saudi Arabia in its concluding round-robin game, both of which are the expected results, both Germany and Ireland will move on to the second round.
Russia's win over Tunisia came in Kobe and featured goals by Yegor Titov and Valery Karpin during a five-minute span of the second half.
That put Russia in front of Group H after Japan and Belgium had played to a 1-1 tie Tuesday.
The Russian goal total could have been much larger, which Russian coach Oleg Romantsev pointed out.
"We cannot allow our opponents to create so many chances. And we created chances ourselves, but did not finish them off," Russia Romantsev said. "So we have work to do in both penalty areas."
Thursday's top attraction will be France's meeting with Uruguay in Pusan, where the French need a victory or face the liklihood of having to go home early.
France suffered a 1-0 loss to Senegal last week and had to play that one without superstar Zinedine Zidane, who suffered a torn thigh muscle just days before the start of the tournament. Zidane's status for Thursday's game remains in doubt and the French coach said he was leaving it up to Zidane to decide whether he feels healthy enough to play. Zidane did not work out Wednesday and was not available to say whether he thought he could play.
Senegal and Denmark, meanwhile, will play Thursday in Daegu and the winner of that one will take over the lead in Group A. A tie would benefit Senegal more than it would Denmark since the Danes still most face France and Senegal has already beaten the defending champions. Denmark defeated Uruguay in its first game, 2-1.
Also on the schedule Thursday will be the Cameroon-Saudi Arabia match in Saitama. Saudi Arabia will hope to put together a better effort than it did against Germany last Saturday, during which the Saudis surrendered eight goals and came close to being the most one-sided loser in World Cup history.
