Matt Lindland (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) qualified for the gold-medal match at 76 kg/167.5 pounds in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympic Games.     Lindland won the semifinal match over David Manukyan of Ukraine, held in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in the evening session on Monday, September 25.    Lindland scored the first two points on a counter tilt, then gave up a takedown for a 2-1 lead at 0:36. Manukyan scored a three-point throw at the 2:35 mark, then Lindland worked out for a reversal shortly after. Manukyan led 4-3 at mid break. . In the second period, Lindland got Manukyan down on the mat after a passivity call. Lindland hit a three-point lift at the 4:20 mark then received an extra point for holding him for a 7-4 lead. He held on for the victory at 7-4.    After the bout, the Ukrainian delegation protested the match to FILA, the international wrestling federation. The protest was denied.    Lindland will battle Mourat Kardanov of Russia for the gold medal. Kardanov was sixth in last year's World Championships. Lindland has never faced Kardanov before. The bronze medal match at the weight class will feature Manukyan of Ukraine and Marko Yli-Hannuksela of Finland for the bronze medal.    The other U.S. wrestler in the semifinals, Garrett Lowney (Appleton, Wis./Minnesota Storm), was defeated at 97 kg/213.75 pounds by Mikael Ljungberg of Sweden, a two-time World Champion. In the first period, Lowney was thrown by twice, for a total of eight points. Lowney scored a reversal for one point, ending the scoring at 8-1. No points were scored in the second period.    The loss ends an amazing run for the 20-year old Lowney, who won three straight matches in his first Olympic Games. In his second match, Lowney shocked five-time World Champion Gogui Koguouachvili of Russia, then won his quarterfinal match this morning against Genadi Chkhaidze of Georgia.    The medal matches at 97 kg will be Ljungberg against Davyd Saldadze of Ukraine for the gold medal and Lowney against Konstantinos Thanos of Greece for the bronze medal.    Two U.S. wrestlers competing in their first day ended the day unbeaten: Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 127.75 pounds and Rulon Gardner (Afton, Wyo./Sunkist Kids) at 286 pounds.    Gruenwald won his first match of the Olympics, 4-3, over Karen Mnatsakanyan of Armenia, scoring the winning point with one second left on a scramble. Gruenwald led 3-0, with a takedown and a turn in the first half of the bout. However, Mnatsakanyan made it interesting in the last 25 seconds. He turned Gruenwald for two points, then lifted and threw Gruenwald for one point. Gruenwald flattened out and stopped a big move. In the ensueing scramble, Gruenwald hit a duckunder for the winning point    Gardner dominated the entire match, to score a 6-0 win over Haykaz Galstyan of Armenia. Rulon led 2-0 at break, afer a gutwrench turn, then scored the key third point on a takedown at the 4:58 mark. He added a takedown and turn in the last seven seconds for the six point margin.    Losing his second match and being eliminated from the competition was Quincey Clark (New Brighton, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 85 kg/187.25 pounds. Clark lost his second bout of the day, when he was defeated by technical fall by Mohammed Mohamed of Egypt, 12-0. The match was scoreless in the first stanza, and the clinch was needed. Clark was penalized with a caution and two points to Mohamed from the clinch. Once they were down, Mohamed went on a flurry of turns and throws, racking up the other eight points in only a few seconds, with the bout ending at 3:32.    U.S. results    Monday, September 25, 5:00 p.m. session    58 kg/127.75 lbs. - James Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)     dec. Karen Mnatsakanyan (Armenia), 4-3    63 kg/137.75 lbs. - Kevin Bracken, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC)     no bouts this session    69 kg/152 lbs. - Heath Sims, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC)     no bouts this session    76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)     Semifinals - dec. David Manukyan (Ukraine), 7-4    85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Quincey Clark, New Brighton, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)     lost by tech. Fall to Mohamed Mohamed (Egypt), 12-0, 3:32    97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Garrett Lowney, Appleton, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)     Semifinals - lost dec. to Mikael Ljungberg (Sweden), 8-1    130 kg/286 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo. (Sunkist Kids)     dec. Haykaz Galstyan (Armenia), 6-0