In brief

U.S. gets key soccer win over Guatemala

By wire services
Published March 31, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Eddie Johnson came through once again, showing the stellar form that has made him America's top soccer scorer and giving the United States a key victory in World Cup qualifying Wednesday night.

A day shy of his 21st birthday, Johnson scored in the 11th minute and set up Steve Ralston's goal in the 68th to lead the United States over Guatemala 2-0. Johnson has eight goals in eight international appearances, seven of them in World Cup qualifiers.

By winning their first home game in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the Americans improved to 2-1-0, one point behind Mexico (2-0-1), which tied 1-1 at Panama (0-1-2). Next with four points are Guatemala (1-1-1) and Costa Rica (1-1-1).

STAR ON SIDELINE: Brandi Chastain, a standout player for the past 17 years on one of the best national teams, will join ABC Sports and ESPN2 as a sideline reporter for MLS telecasts.

Churchill Downs has stopped accepting horses from Palm Meadows, a Florida training facility where several horses have been diagnosed with a bacterial infection. The ban, which includes Gulfstream Park, will remain in effect until Churchill officials are satisfied precautions are being taken to control the strangles infection in Florida, track president Steve Sexton said. Concern comes weeks before horses are to arrive for Churchill's spring meet and the Kentucky Derby. Strangles is rarely fatal but is highly contagious and typically forces horses to leave regular training while they recover.

FLORIDA DERBY FIELD: Favorite High Fly will break from gate No. 4 in Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, one of the premier tuneups for the Kentucky Derby. High Fly was installed as an 8-5 favorite in the $1-million race. Stablemate Noble Causeway is the second choice at 3-1 and will be on the rail. Rounding out the nine-horse field are BB Best, Park Avenue Ball, Vicarage, Mighty Mecke, Papi Chullo, Wall Street Scandal and Evil Minister.

JOB INTERVIEW: Florida defensive assistant Dock Holliday is scheduled to interview for the vacant Marshall University head coaching job next week. Holliday is a native of Hurricane, W. Va. and a former longtime West Virginia assistant. "Right now, my only concern is being here at Florida," Holliday said Wednesday. "I'm happy to be here. What happens next week with that deal I'm not sure of right now.

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

HIGH SCHOOLS: La Cueva of Albuquerque, N.M., has tied the national prep baseball record of 68 consecutive wins, set in 1963-66. La Cueva (10-0) has a doubleheader scheduled Saturday.

OBITUARY: Milton Green, once a world-record hurdler who boycotted the 1936 Berlin Olympics, has died at 91 in Palm Beach. While at Harvard in 1935-36, Green tied the world record of 5.8 seconds in the 45-yard hurdles four times and the world record of 7.5 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. At 71, he won six gold medals and four silvers at the Florida Senior Olympics in 1984.

[Last modified March 31, 2005, 01:28:16]