U.S. Soccer Advances to Second Round of World Cup With Best First Round Ever

Somewhere under the pile of US players is goal scorer Landon Donovan. "We embody what America is all about," said Donovan. "We kept going – we believed!"

In the upcoming days, weeks and months, U.S. fans around the world are sure to be subject to every cliché in the book as journalists work fervently to describe the emotions surrounding America’s third game of this World Cup.  Statements such as “The U.S. never quits” or “American players show tremendous heart” or even “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  That picture was there for the world to see as Landon Donovan rushed towards the corner flag after scoring the game winner in the 91^st minute.  The jubilation on his face may be the only thing capable of fully expressing the feelings of every American supporter on the edge of their seat, holding their breath.  Every American who watched as our chances of advancing became less and less with each passing minute, each missed opportunity, and yet another unfairly disallowed goal.  We’ll hear statements such as “Biggest win in U.S. soccer history” or “Most exciting game in U.S. soccer history,” both of which are sure to be debated for years to come.

One statement that is not debatable is simply this; “The most successful first round in U.S. World Cup history.”  Yes, I know that we won the group in 1930, but at that time, only three teams formed each bracket.  Never has the U.S. squad obtained 5 points in the first round.  An accomplishment that not only saw the U.S. into the second round, but also ensured a number one seed in a group that included England; a team who many saw going deep into the tournament.  It’s almost unfathomable to think that the U.S. was merely two minutes from not advancing at all.

After avoiding another early deficit when Algerian forward Rafik Djebbour got behind the U.S. defense, the team took over and largely controlled the remainder of the game.  In the sixth minute Rafik received a long ball down the middle that was sent in from Algeria’s defensive end and collected just inside the eighteen yard box.  The ball was struck well as Howard could only make a half effort to save the shot before turning his head in time to see the ball strike the crossbar.  It was exactly the wakeup call the U.S. needed, but this time it didn’t have to come at the cost of playing from behind.

Just one minute later, Herculez Gomez nearly scored when he caught the Algerian goalkeeper trying to slide over for the cross a bit prematurely.  Gomez unleashed a shot to the right side of the net from the corner of the eighteen, forcing Rais M’Bolhi to quickly dive back to his near post in order to push it wide.  This would be the first of many more great scoring opportunities for the Americans.  With 22 shots, 10 on frame, it was one of the more prolific offensive showings in this year’s World Cup.

Time and time again, the U.S. created great chances for themselves, only to come up short on each opportunity.  After Dempsey put a set piece well over the net in the 9^th minute, Donovan also sent one high when he found himself free to strike in the 18^th minute from about 25 yards out.

In the 20^th minute, it looked as if the U.S. had opened the scoring when Gomez collected a rebound off his own strike that he initially shot directly at the keeper from the corner of the six.  As he attempted to hit it back on frame, he lost his footing sending the ball directly across the mouth of the goal to an awaiting Dempsey who calmly redirected it home.  The celebration was brief though, as the American players quickly realized that the offsides flag had gone up.  Replays showed that Dempsey was clearly even with the last defender.  It was the kind of call that had the collective whole of American supporters thinking, “Here we go again.”  It also could have sent the U.S. into a tailspin as it could have been very easy for them to begin feeling sorry for themselves.

As it was, the U.S. turned it up another notch and forced the issue with six more quality chances prior to the halftime whistle.  The best chance being a shot from seven yards out in front of an empty net that Jose Altidore managed to put over.  The play began with Bradley deftly dribbling into the eighteen yard box and slotting a ball over to Donovan through the legs of an Algerian defender.  As the keeper came out to the corner of the six to challenge, Landon was able to lift the ball over the onrushing body.  With the goalie now well out of the play, both Altidore and Donovan converged on the ball with Altidore reaching first and blasting the ball high.  Dempsey was able to put one more shot on target before half while at the same time losing his footing on his plant foot.  Although there wasn’t much power on the shot, goalkeeper Rais seemed to have trouble tracking the ball while overcompensating on his dive nearly allowed the ball to bounce over his hips.  As it was, he was able to absorb the ball into his body without incident.

Half time saw Bob Bradley replace Herculez Gomez with Benny Feilhaber. Feilhaber contributed to the second half spark that brought the U.S. back from a two-goal deficit versus Slovenia.  The move was still a bit curious as Gomez had played solidly in the first half.

The U.S. began the second half with the same offensive surges that filled the first half.  Dempsey missed a golden opportunity in the 57^th minute when he found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat.  He attempted to place his ensuing shot in the right side netting and had the keeper beat only to have his shot strike the right post and bounce directly across the goal mouth onto his still onrushing body. While only needing to place the rebound in a once again open net, Dempsey was unable to properly place the ball on frame.  Blame the Jubalani if you’d like, but this was one shot that Dempsey would have liked to have back.  One only needed to look at the expression on his face as he turned back up field.

Next would come a strong header from Edson Buddle. Only four minutes after entering the game while replacing Maurice Edu in the 64^th minute, Buddle found himself on the end of a beautiful Cherundolo cross.  He proceeded to place a solid header on frame, however, it was directly at the keeper who was able to smother the rebound just before an onrushing Altidore was able to touch it home.

After a beautiful free-kick strike by Bradley forced the keeper to save and after Dempsey sent another free-kick high, it was beginning to feel as if this was not America’s game and the U.S. would be heading home early.  Minutes continued to tick away and regulation time was nearly done.  The desperation was becoming evident as coach Bob Bradley subbed out Bornstein in favor of a more attack-minded Beasley in the 80^th minute.  This would be the first time that Beasley had seen the pitch in the 2010 World Cup.

The fourth official put up four minutes of stoppage time and it had come down to this.  The team who had become known across the world for their never quit attitude and work ethic would need one more solid push.  It began with Howard collecting a routine shot on the near post and distributing a perfect 40-yard throw to Landon Donovan who was breaking out on the right side of the field.  Donovan distributed forward to Altidore who carried into the eighteen and slotted the ball across to an onrushing Dempsey.  His attempt to finish was thwarted by Algeria’s keeper who blocked the shot. The ball caromed back out in front to Donovan who was now sprinting into the box after hanging back as an option for Altidore.  The next scene can only be described as surreal as Donovan calmly and collectively placed the ball in the lower left corner of the now empty net.  That single moment completely changed this first round from being one that would have been deemed a failure, to one that is the most successful round in U.S. history.   I guess “It’s never over ‘til it’s over.”  Try telling this U.S. team anything different.