21.   Kirovski played impressively in recent friendlies against Paraguay and Israel, but he has never scored a goal in a World Cup qualifying match.

22.   Justin Gimelstob had just overpowered Ytai Abougzir in a U.S. Open qualifying match Wednesday when a familiar face appeared.

23.   Many Central and South American players were gone in late April for qualifying matches.

24.   Not one lineup, through qualifying matches to now, is different.

25.   Oliver Patience had a match point against Russell in his first-round qualifying match.

26.   Prize money for players in qualifying matches has also increased.

27.   Qualifying matches were completed Monday as Lisa Raymond, Magui Serna, Ines Gorrochategui and Anne Kremer earned their way into the tournament.

28.   Qualifying matches are played on a home-and-away basis, but anti-Japanese sentiment was so rabid that South Korea prohibited the Japanese from playing here.

29.   She won her two qualifying matches over the weekend before being eliminated Monday.

30.   Some observers blame Hejduk for costing the US in its first two World Cup qualifying matches last month.