USA Advances with Stoppage Time Goal by Donovan

The newest ride is the USA mens soccer team. It's a thrill a minute...and it will continue for at least another game. The Americans advanced by virtue of defeating Algeria 1-0 on a goal in stoppage time by the face of the team, Landon Donovan.

It took me about six hours to collect myself and gather my thoughts after the match was over.

Think about the ride we've been taken on over the past week.

In the first match, the US conceded and early goal to England due to a defensive meltdown that allowed Steven Gerrard a goal in the match's 4th minute. Four minutes and we're down 1-0? And it lasted until the 40th when Clint Dempsey and the US were gift wrapped a goal by England's goal keeper Robert Green. That would be the last goal of the match. USA 1, England 1. 1 point for the USA in the group.

Next for the Americans was Slovenia who were coming off a 1-0 defeat of Algeria, and the Slovenians were the Group C leaders with 3 points. Again, a slow start resulted in the US attempting to dig out of a 2-0 halftime deficit. After an early goal by Donovan and a late goal by Michael Bradley (both were stunning plays), the match was tied 2-2. Then, it happened. I think we all remember where we were when the now infamous disallowed Maurice Edu goal that would have given the USA a 3-2 lead happened. No goal. Referee blew the call. USA 2, Slovenia 2. Now, the USA had amassed 2 points.

As today's match started, I was sincerely hoping that the Americans would have more early success. In the 7th minute, a shot by Algerian Rafik Djebbour rang loudly off the crossbar. Good sign? At least it didn't go in. But the American had a number of chances throughout the match...and another disallowed goal due to a bad offsides call by the referee's assistant. Replay shows that Dempsey was level with the second Algerian defender and the goal should have stood. Bad sign(s)?

Algeria needed to score at least two goals to even have a chance to advance. They hardly pressed the play and seemed resolved in attempting a counter attack rather than force the issue. Sure, they had only surrendered one goal (similar to the one the US received against England), but they hadn't put a goal on their side of the board either. Defense was their calling card, but if you can't score, you can't advance.


In case you haven't been watching the pregame, all of the commentators have been stating two things. The US needed a clean sheet against Algeria and Tim Howard in one of the best goalies in the world. He proved it, as an offensive weapon, today.

After an easy save, Howard saw the opportunity to hit Donovan sprinting down the right side. When Donovan received the pass, he was already near midfield and the US quickly had a 4-on-2 attack developing. A slight cut to the middle of the field about 30 yards out, a slight pass to his right hit a streaking and supporting Jozy Altidore. Altidore struck a crossing pass from inside the right side of the penalty area toward Clint Dempsey who was directly in front of the goal. Dempsey's shot was blocked, but it bounced out of the reach of the Algerian goal keeper. And the cavalry came in the form of Donovan who struck the ball into the left side of the net. USA 1, Algeria 0. 3 points plus the other two and the US now had 5...and advanced into the round of 16.

Next for the Americans is Ghana in the round of 16 as the knockout phase begins. It's now a "one and done" tournament. It will be tough as Ghana will most likely be the last representative from the continent of Africa still playing for the world's most highly sought trophy. You can bet the vuvuzelas will be loud.

Wild ride? You better believe it. And I don't want it to end.

Other match notes:
- Entering the World Cup, the US had scored more goals inside the last six minutes of a match than any other team playing at the World Cup. They had 9 entering today.
- The US won its group for the first time since 1930.
- Donovan's goal in stoppage time (90+1) is the latest goal ever scored by the US in WC play.
- The win represent the first time the US has attained a point in the last match of group play.
- Donovan was credited with only one shot on goal. The one that counted.