U.S.-KOREA A HOT TOPIC HEAT, DRAMA HIGH FOR MATCH.

Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer

DAEGU, South Korea - The U.S. meets South Korea with a berth in the 2002 World Cup second round all but assured for a winner - with a game in hand for each.

Everyone who saw this coming should apply immediately for employment as a Psychic Friend.

``Coming in, people were saying maybe one of us gets through, with Portugal,'' U.S. forward Landon Donovan said Saturday. ``Now we both have our destiny in our hands, and if we win we're going to pull through.''

``Certainly, if one of the teams walks away with three points, it is big,'' U.S. coach Bruce Arena said, ``and certainly, we're the team that aspires to that.''

The Group D game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Monday here in South Korea (11:30 p.m. Sunday in California), and the competition will be about more than matchups and tactics.

Weather is expected to be a significant factor; the forecast calls for game-time temperatures in the low 90s, with humidity at a punishing 80 percent or more and health-threatening levels of ozone.

Another factor: the expected outpouring of national support for the Koreans, overnight heroes to a nation of 48 million soccer fanatics.

The stadium here, the biggest of the Korean venues, will be packed with 65,000 people, all but a few wearing red T-shirts and shouting their lungs out in support of the Red Devils, as the South Korean team likes to be known.

Korean players hope to be buoyed by the support; the Americans intend to ignore it, suggesting it can't be more intimidating than that of Mexico City or Teguchigalpa or other less-than-idyllic North American venues the Yanks visit every four years.

``We know it's going to be loud, we know they're going to be excited for their team and we're looking forward to it,'' goalkeeper Kasey Keller said.

Both sides are coming off impressive victories. South Korea dominated Poland in a 2-0 triumph and the U.S. stunned group favorite Portugal 3-2.

The Yanks tend to believe the Koreans are under more pressure. Of expectations, and of knowing they need three points from the U.S. because they can't count on defeating Portugal in their final group-play match (while the U.S. plays less-imposing Poland).

``I think certainly there is more pressure on them than us, at this point,'' U.S. forward Joe-Max Moore said. ``They've got the hopes of an entire nation on them and we do, too, to a certain extent, but I think now with their past few results, they're expected to get to the second round.''

Midfielder Claudio Reyna, the U.S. captain, is expected to be in the lineup after missing the Portugal game with a strained quadriceps muscle.

Arena has hinted at other lineup changes and those could include David Regis reclaiming the left-back spot from Frankie Hejduk, who might shift to the right side of the midfield in place of Earnie Stewart (strained groin).

Officially, Arena is silent, as always, about his lineup, but speculation also is rife that Josh Wolff could replace Brian McBride at striker, adding speed and ball control to the starting 11, and that Gregg Berhalter could take over for Jeff Agoos at left-central defender.

Key players for the Koreans include central defender Hong Myung Bo, who is appearing in his fourth World Cup, attacking midfielder Yoo Sang Chul and striker Seol Ki Hyeon, who plays for Anderlecht in the Belgian first division. Hwang Sun Hong, a prominent forward who scored against Poland, is out with an injury.

``The expectations are extremely high, maybe too high,'' Dutch-born coach Guus Hiddink said of Korean public opinion. ``But the team isn't worried about playing with that expectation. I can't guarantee the result; no one can. But I can guarantee the team will go until it has no more energy, and I can assure you the team has a lot of energy.''

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The U.S. team stretches in preparation for the South Korea match, as well as a 90-degree temperature at game time.