2010 FIFA World Cup: Landon Donovan Saves Team USA from Early Elimination

It wasn't supposed to go down like this. The US wasn't supposed to be watching the rest of the World Cup as spectators.

But as the minutes and seconds ticked away, it looked as if the improbable was about to happen. It looked like Team USA was going to be eliminated from the round of 16 and would be headed for a very solemn plane ride home.

Then, Landon Donovan struck and it sent the US fans in attendance, as well as his teammates, into an absolute frenzy.

A minute later, the final whistle blew, and a dog pile ensued.

Just a few days ago the US didn't need this win, they could have taken a tie and made it comfortably into the next round. But a poor call cost the US a much needed win and all the talk surrounded the question of whether this team could pull out a win just to stay in.

Midway through their game against Algeria, news broke that England had scored to go up 1-0 on Slovakia, and the US game took on a whole new feel. The drama and suspense was building, and it became desperation time for Team USA.

They missed opportunity after opportunity in the first half. Had the goals been 15 feet or higher, the US would have won comfortably. Heck, had Algeria not hit the cross-bar early in the first half, the US would still be boarding a plane home.

But, as it turned out, fate would intervene and Landon Donovan made sure that his team was not going to be going home, not yet.

As the game got into the 90th minute and reality started to set in on Team USA, they forged ahead for one last chance. Jozy Altidore’s shot was tipped by Clint Dempsey, but it was hit hard enough that it knocked the Algeria goalie off balance and the ball bounced a few feet in front of a streaking Donovan, who calmly shot it into the left side of the goal.

The celebration was on.

Now, all the talk about the officials taking two straight wins away from the US will come to an end and the talk about how the US will do in the round of 16 will begin, and rightly so.

This team deserves to have this country watching every second of their games. They deserve to have all of the attention, and they deserve every celebration going on here in the United States.

Whether you're a soccer fan or you can't stand the game, as I've been guilty of saying on more than one occasion, turn the television on for no other reason than to root for your country, and root for the red, white, and blue.

Team USA, with the 1-0 win today, wins their group for the first time in 80 years (1930) and accomplished just its fifth ever World Cup shutout.

They will have a few days off before they play again this weekend against the runner-up in Group D which should be decided before the end of today. That game is scheduled to get underway at 1:30 p.m. EDT this coming Saturday.

So, if you don't have anything to do on Saturday, pull out that American flag you have tucked away in the garage that usually goes up for patriotic holidays, put it up in your living room, invite some friends over, and root on a team that has earned a lot of respect over the last few days.

For Team USA, the modern day "Miracle on Ice" happened on the "pitch" in South Africa.

But now it's time to prepare like never before. Because on Saturday it's win or go home.