USA Advances to Round of 16 in a Thriller

Having come into the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ ranked 14th in the World and drawn into a relatively tough Group C consisting of 8th ranked England and Slovenia, Algeria ranked 25th and 30th respectively. Many believed the Americans had a great chance to advance to the Round of 16 if they continued their great play exhibited through qualifying. Their path however would be anything but easy. What occurred over the course of the Group Stages would go down as perhaps one of the defining moments in United States soccer history.

The first Group C match was against England which was their first head-to-head meeting in World Cup play since the Miracle Match of 1950 FIFA World Cup™ held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil where the Americans shocked the world defeating the mighty British 1-0. This match was expected to be evenly matched unlike the one 50 years ago.

The English by far were the better side at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the first half however despite their dominance the Americans managed to level before HT after a huge gaffe by the English keeper Robert Green. Clint Dempsey's relatively easy shot on goal rebounded off Green's hands and trickled over the line into goal. The Americans came out with more passion and grit and was the better side in the second half and gained a little respect for holding the English at bay settling for a 1-1 draw.

The second match in Group C was against Slovenia at Ellis Park. Controversy was never far away when the Americans graced the pitch during the World Cup. This match was a prime example of that due to another dubious call that influenced the outcome of the game. Looking at the first half statistics one would wonder how the Slovenians with only two shots on goal would have a 2 nil lead. Each were defensive lapses as Slovenia took advantage of too much space at the back for the first and executed a superb counterattack to double their lead. The American's defense was an Achilles heal that many felt would be their undoing in South Africa.

Yet despite the two goal deficit the Americans came out on the attack in the second half once again dominating. With a few changes they scored from Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley to level the match with ten minutes remaining. Almost five minutes later Maurice Edu and all of world thought the Americans had made an improbable comeback when the go-ahead goal smashed into the back of the net however to everyone's astonishment and utter bewilderment the blind ref from Mali refused to let it stand as he wrongly thought a American player was offside.

No arguing or diplomacy mattered as the goal was officially ruled out. Despite the blind refs inability to see what everyone else in the world saw the Americans managed to earn another important point with a hard fought draw. Using the angst and ire from that match the Americans would use the controversy to spur them on into the final deciding match against the Algerians. Win they advanced to the Round of 16 and top the Group, draw things would be complicated, and lose they would go home wondering what could have been.

What happened in the final match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria was one of the most dramatic, exhilarating moments in American sports history. Algeria just as they had done earlier to stymie the English couple days earlier put up an incredible defensive-minded match. Statistically the match was even with several chances having gone awry for the Algerians in the first half. The Americans seized upon the momentum from the first half and piled on the pressure. It was just a matter of time before there was a breakthrough goal. The FIFA-lead controversy would once again rear it's ugly head with another phantom offside rule that canceled out another superb goal, this time by Clint Dempsey. The Americans had so many chances that they could not capitalize on and any other day they may have seen one or two goals. Frustration crept in amongst the supporters around the world and probably the players as well when the score remained 0-0 with the match nearing the 90 minute mark and ET having been announced.

Just when it looked like all was lost and the Americans would earn another draw and probably head home defeated a last gasp counterattack broke down the staunch Algerian defense. With Jozy Altidore on the right flank using his pace to his advantage he sent in a cross to the center hoping a teammate could get on the end of it to score. It appeared the Algerian keeper had snuffed out the danger however he was only able to block the ball and in so doing it rebounded into Landon Donovan's path who instinctively smashed it into the back of the net! Pandemonium erupted throughout the stadium and everywhere else in the world where American supporters were watching. Euphoria and tears of joy were evident after Donovan's remarkable winning goal saw the Americans top the Group and move on to face Ghana in the Round of 16 on Saturday June 26th.

With their exhilarating 91st minute goal by now legendary US sporting hero Landon Donovan that win over Algeria set several historical milestones.

• USA won its group for first time since 1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay™
• First time ever winning four-team Group
• Win was first point and win for Americans in third Group game in eight tries
• First ever gone unbeaten in Group play
• Landon Donovan's fourth goal ties him  with Bert Patenaude for most US career World Cup goals
• Donovan's eleventh FIFA World Cup™ cap (appearance) tying him with Cobi Jones/Earnie Stewart