Just one more win will give the United States its sixth straight World Cup berth.

Ricardo Clark scored in the 62nd minute, and the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago, 1-0, last night at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, to move into first place in World Cup qualifying.

"It's huge. It's huge. It gives a little bit of space when things are getting tight in our group," Clark said. "We knew we had to come out in this game and get a win."

The United States failed to win its first three road qualifiers this year and played a listless first half. The Americans went ahead when Clint Dempsey played the ball wide to Landon Donovan, who cut the ball back to Clark.

Clark took a touch and let loose a bending 26-yard shot that swerved past goalkeeper Clayton Ince. It was just the second goal in 25 international appearances for the Houston Dynamo midfielder, who also scored against Paraguay in the Copa America two years ago.

The United States (5-2-1) leads the final round of North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying with 16 points, one ahead of Mexico (5-3), three in front of Honduras (4-3-1) and four ahead Costa Rica (4-4). The results of yesterday's other two games helped the Americans, with Mexico beating visiting Honduras, 1-0, and Costa Rica losing 1-0 at El Salvador.

U.S. striker Brian Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum, came in as a substitute in the 77th minute.

BASKETBALL

IVERSON'S A GRIZZLIE

Allen Iverson will be a fan attraction for the Memphis Grizzlies — from the very beginning.

The Grizzlies confirmed yesterday they have agreed in principle to a contract with Iverson, hours after the guard tweeted he was heading to Memphis. A news conference will be held today at FedExForum in Memphis.

Memphis would be the fourth team for Iverson after starting his career in Philadelphia and playing for Denver and Detroit. He has averaged 27.1 points per game through his 13 NBA seasons, but his production dropped to 17.4 points per game in his 54 games after being traded by Denver to Detroit during last season.

And What's More ...

J.R. Celski beat Apolo Anton Ohno to win the 1,500 meters at the U.S. short track speedskating national championships last night at Marquette, Mich. ... American Stacy Dragila, a former world and Olympic champion, ended her 14-year pole vaulting career with a second-place finish at the DecaNation athletics meet yesterday in Paris.