A 77th-minute goal by Eddie Pope gave D.C. United of MLS a 2-0 win over Brazil’s Vasco da Gama in the second leg of the 1998 Interamerican Cup at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and a 2-1 victory on aggregate to win the trophy. The victory allows D.C. to lay claim to the title “Best club in the Western Hemisphere” and would potentially give the team a berth in a World Club Championship should that event occur. “This is an almost unbelievable accomplishment,” said D.C. coach Bruce Arena, who coached his final game for the MLS club. “We beat one of the great club teams in the world and I’m very proud of D.C. United, the MLS and soccer in the United States.” As in the first leg, D.C. had the better of play in the first half, with Vasco absorbing pressure and looking to counter. Richie Williams freed Roy Lassiter in the right side of the area, but the United forward’s shot was well saved by Vasco keeper Carlos Germano. But D.C. broke the stalemate in the 34th minute. Some fine passing from United put defender Jeff Agoos clear on the left, and he hit a low shot for the far post that Sanneh sidefooted home to give D.C. the lead and a tie in the overall aggregate score. In the second half, Vasco emerged with new determination and pinned United in its own half for the first twenty minutes. The Brazilians were unlucky not to equalize in the 56th minute, as Donizete was twice denied — once by the crossbar and once by a fine save from Scott Garlick. But D.C. recovered, and in the 77th minute Marco Etcheverry’s corner kick to the far post found Lassiter, who side-footed the ball back across the goalmouth to Pope, who was alone at the top of the six and first-timed the ball into the open net. “It’s kind of a curse,” said Pope, of his scoring gamewinners for D.C. in MLS Cup ’96, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Interamerican Cup. “But it’s a good curse to have, I’ll tell you that.” Vasco appeared to have scored on a Guilherme header in the 89th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the Vasco striker and D.C. hung on for the win. “It’s good,” Vasco coach Antonio Lopes said of the result. “They [D.C.] played well; the cup is good for them. They played better than Vasco, the cup will be in good hands…. Fatigue was a factor.” “I know the obstacles Vasco had in playing this game with the unusual amount of travel and competition they’ve had in the last three weeks,” Arena said. “But that doesn’t take anything away from what we’ve accomplished… In all honesty, even though we didn’t win the MLS Cup this year, I think this has been the greatest year for D.C. United. The accomplishments we’ve had this year have been tremendous.” “[Winning the Interamerican Cup] is somehting that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives,” said D.C. midfielder John Harkes. “Not only mature players who’ve been out there and done things, but also the younger guys who’ve come through and been a bit in awe… I’m overcome by it, actually — I can’t believe we actually beat Vasco. Hopefully the world sees it and realizes it. It’s special. It’s one of those victories that stays in your heart.”