U.S. CAN RELAX NEXT GAME : SPOT IN FINAL ASSURED, GUATEMALA MATCH MEANS LITTLE.

Byline: Associated Press 

For the first time, the United States will play a meaningless World Cup qualifier because it has already clinched advancement.

``It's a great opportunity to use younger players and players who need playing time,'' U.S. coach Steve Sampson said after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Costa Rica. ``It's an important game. It has meaning for gaining valuable international experience.''

The Americans clinched their spot in the six-team finals of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with the win. Saturday's game against Guatemala at San Salvador, El Salvador, will help determine whether Guatemala or Costa Rica joins the final round along with the Americans, Canada, El Salvador, Jamaica and Mexico.

``A lot of guys here have injuries and a lot of guys need time off, physically and mentally,'' defender Alexi Lalas said.

Three teams will advance from the final to the 32-nation World Cup in France in 1998. The double round-robin schedule calls for each team to play two games next February, two in March, one in April, one in September, two in October and two in November.

``It's a tremendous relief to all of us,'' Lalas said. ``Now, there are six teams and three that go to France, and we'll be one of them.''

Saturday's victory at Stanford Stadium came before 40,527 people, well above crowds of 19,312 in Virginia and 30,082 in Washington. At previous home games this fall, most fans rooted for the visiting team.

``There was a tremendous outpouring of support and we appreciate it more than you know,'' Sampson said.

Two weeks ago, when the Americans lost 2-1 at Costa Rica, they endured a hostile crowd that threw batteries and other debris at the U.S. players.

``The fact we were treated poorly down there, we used to our advantage,'' Lalas said. ``We'd seen it before. We're all professionals. But the way we lost, we all came back and said, `We had a dismal performance. We know we're a better team than this.' ''

Argentina struggles: Argentina stumbled again in World Cup qualifying, playing a 1-1 tie against Chile at Buenos Aires.

Fernando Cornejo scored six minutes into the second half for Chile, but Gabriel Batistuta tied the score on a penalty kick in the 70th.

Argentina (2-1-3) is third in South American qualifying, trailing Colombia (5-0-2) and Paraguay (3-1-2). The top four teams advance to the 1998 World Cup in France along with Brazil, which qualifies automatically as defending champion.

Colombia rolls: At San Cristobal, visiting Colombia came away with a 2-0 victory over last-place Venezuela (0-6-1) when Jorge Bermudez scored off a crossing pass from Carlos Valderrama in the seventh minute and Ivan Rene Valenciano scored in the 50th.

Trouble in England: Mounted police broke up fighting on the field after Bristol Rovers scored a last-minute goal and tied Bristol City 1-1.

Fans of Bristol Rovers ran on the field after the goal. City fans reacted by invading the field and chasing players.

``Obviously it's a serious matter and we will be looking at it as a matter of urgency,'' Football Association spokesman Steve Double said.