SWEET VICTORINE FOR U.S. FORMER BRUIN'S PENALTY KICK PUTS U.S. IN SOCCER SEMIFINALS.

Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer

SYDNEY, Australia - Sasha Victorine listened intently as coach Clive Charles decided the five-man shootout lineup against Japan.

``Clive just kind of put us around, and I ended up No. 5,'' Victorine said. ``I was watching and watching, and then I thought, `Wait a second, I might start becoming kind of important.' ''

The penalty kick by the former UCLA star was of utmost importance to the U.S.: It capped a 5-4 shootout victory Saturday night in Adelaide to send the Americans to the semifinals of the men's soccer tournament at the Sydney Olympics.

Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki got his fingertips on Victorine's well- struck ball, but it had enough pace to glance off the keeper and into the right side of the net, setting off a wild celebration by the Americans after arguably their most significant result in an international event.

``This proves we're right there with the rest of the world now,'' U.S. midfielder Frankie Hejduk said. ``I think we're going to gain a lot of respect from the tournament. ``Teams aren't going to say, `Oh, great, we get to play the U.S.' Now it'll be like, `Damn, we're playing the U.S. today.' ''

The U.S. next plays Spain, Tuesday night at Sydney Football Stadium. The final will be Sept. 30 at Olympic Stadium.

The Americans, an under-23 team with three ``over-age'' players allowed in the Olympics, twice came from behind, getting even at 2-2 in the 90th minute on a penalty kick by midfielder Peter Vagenas of St. Francis High and UCLA. Vagenas' shot was set up when dangerous U.S. forward Josh Wolff was taken down in the box by a Japanese defender.

``I got myself in front of that guy, and he clipped my feet and I was forced down,'' Wolff said. ``It was a good PK.''

Vagenas led off the shootout, meaning Los Angeles Galaxy players started and finished it. Victorine was seeing his first action in the tournament as an overtime substitute for Chris Albright.

Victorine had trouble remembering the last time he took a penalty shot.

``In practice, maybe three months ago? No, I don't remember,'' he said. ``Probably at UCLA was the last time I took a PK.''

Vagenas, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Wolff and Victorine converted for the U.S. in the shootout. Japan star midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata (who plays for AS Roma of the Italian first division), missed on Japan's fourth attempt, banging his shot off the post.

Charles, an assistant coach with the 1998 World Cup team, was ecstatic after the match.

``I've been involved in a lot of games over the years, with World Cup games and World Cup qualifying games, and this may have been the most exciting game that I've ever been involved in,'' Charles said. ``Both teams were committed to the attack. It had everything. It had quality soccer. It had incidents on both ends. The game was hard, but fair.

``I'm just very proud to be a part of this. These guys were phenomenal. The team never gave up. I'm exhausted; I have no idea how these guys feel.''

Japan took a lead in the 30th minute when Atsushi Yanagisawa headed in a cross following a restart near the edge of the box. The U.S. equalized in the 68th minute when Wolff took advantage of a poor clearance of an Agoos cross, and drilled the ball inside the left post.

Japan went ahead again, in the 72nd minute, when Naohiro Takahara gotfree against keeper Brad Friedel, and scored on a rebound of his own header, blocked by Friedel at point-blank range.

The Yanks, undefeated in four matches (one victory, three draws) nearly were incredulous that they are in the semifinals and headed to the Olympic Village. All matches before the men's semis have been staged outside the Olympic city, and the Americans have trekked from Canberra to Melbourne to Adelaide.

``It's a surreal moment,'' Vagenas said. ``I don't think it's sunk in yet. Maybe when we get to Sydney.''

Said Victorine: ``I don't think it will hit me until I get home.''

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Photo: (1 -- color) Sasha Victorine's penalty kick lifted the U.S. past Japan and into the Olympic soccer semifinals. David J. Phillip/Associated Press