FIFA World Cup 2010: Landon Safely: Donovan's Late Goal Lifts U.S. To Next Round

It took added time, but the United States was able to get it done. Thanks to a breakaway started by goalkeeper Tim Howard, a great feed by Jozy Altidore, and a finish by Landon Donovan, the U.S. was able to defeat Algeria 1-0 and avoid elimination.

Not only does the United States move on to the knockout round, but they also win their group for the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930. The U.S. will face the Group D runner-up, which will be determined this afternoon between Ghana and Germany. That match will take place at 2:30 EST Saturday.

As for today’s game, it was a struggle for the U.S. all day long as they just couldn’t find a goal. In the twentieth minute, Clint Dempsey scored a goal off a Landon Donovan rebound, but the U.S. ended up on the wrong side of poor officiating once again as Dempsey was wrongly called offsides.

Deep into the second half, the U.S. was creating opportunities but was still failing to put one in the back of the net. Coach Bob Bradley substituted in Edson Buddle and even veteran DeMarcus Beasley late in the game to put speed and an extra striker on the field in an attempt to create offense.

After 90 minutes was up, the U.S. was scoreless and England was wrapping up a 1-0 victory over Slovenia. Algeria was on the attack, and it looked as if the United States would leave South Africa without a win. That’s when the stars of the red, white, and blue took the game into their hands and attacked Algeria with a fury yet to be seen from the U.S. this tournament.

Tim Howard stopped an Algerian shot and threw an Elway-like long ball to Landon Donovan down the sideline to start the counterattack. Immediately Donovan was off to the races with Dempsey, Buddle, and Altidore at his side. Donovan was able to dump the ball off to a breaking Altidore who found Dempsey right in front of the net for the apparent game winner. Algerian goalie Faouzi Chaouchi made his last of many stops, blocking the ball off Dempsey’s foot but was helpless as Donovan was right there for the putback and the victory for the Americans.

The Americans put great pressure on themselves coming into this tournament, and anything short of advancing to the knockout stage would have been deamed a failure. Landon Donovan is finally taking advantage of the World Cup moment and is playing the soccer he’s always been capable of and has shown before in club play. The greatest American soccer player ever has finally lived up to his title in international play by scoring the crucial equalizer against the Slovenians, then picking up the biggest goal in U.S. history this morning versus Algeria.

If the stars for the United States can keep up their present play, the Americans will find themselves in good shape. The toughest team the U.S. will have to play in it’s next two matches will likely be Uruguay. The Americans may not be a favorite the rest of the tournament, but they have no reason to fear anybody. This team is talented and has proved their mental toughness coming back from early deficits against England and Slovenia, and they look poised to make a run.

As mentally draining as group play was, the U.S. remains alive and kicking thanks to the leg of Landon Donovan. They may not have made it look easy, but the Yanks are getting it done and are moving on to the round of 16.