In its first match in preparation for the 1998 World Cup, the United States defeated Sweden 1-0 in a friendly match Jan. 24 in Orlando, Fla. 33-year-old forward Roy Wegerle scored the U.S. goal in the second minute of play. Joe-Max Moore made a fine flick over Swedish defender Johan Mjaellby and Wegerle ran onto the ball at the top of the box. He took the ball in towards the left post, beating the Swedish keeper Kihlstedt and slotting the ball home before two defenders could reach it. The U.S. had a marked advantage in possession for most of the match, but were not able to break the Swedish defense again. The match marked the first cap for Gregg Berhalter since 1995, as he teamed in central defense with former North Carolina teammate Eddie Pope. Jan. 24 in Orlando, Fla. USA 1 Sweden 0. Goal: Wegerle 2. USA — Friedel, Burns, Berhalter, Pope, Agoos, Harkes, Stewart, Reyna, Jones (Wynalda, 46), Moore (Lassiter, 64), Wegerle (Radosavljevic 64). Sweden — Kihlstedt, Jacobsson, Nilsson, Lucic, Mjaellby, Erlingmark, Bergh (Lantz, 76), Ljungberg (D.Andersson, 76), Osmanovski, Jonsson (Mattiasson, 86), Wahlstedt (Lilienberg, 76). Yellow cards: USA — Burns 59; Sweden — Mjaellby 25, D.Andersson 86. Referee: Richard Grady. Att.: 12,773.