Wow!!! Where to Start?

Wednesday, June 23rd, had been on the U.S. Soccer calendar since the World Cup draw in December.

 The last match of Group Stage competition in any World Cup always brings special significance, and following the previous match's injustice, our side was up against the wall in a 'win or go home', scenario.

The history was not in our favor, as the U.S. had never won a previous third game of the Group Stage. In 2006, the last African team with a chance to advance to the knockout round, Ghana, was escorted by generous officiating, to a 2-1 win over the U.S., also then in a must-win situation.

The U.S. team this time around, however, is one with an established track record of being very strong mentally, time and time again, solving the toughest of problems when the stakes are highest. This 'must-win' mentality takes the field as a 12th teammate, every time this group hits the pitch.

The match had high stakes for both teams, Algeria as well, but with a real chance to take first in the group, the true prize was there for the U.S. Forget the horrendous decision against Slovenia, win at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, and next stop, the Round of 16. Coach Bob Bradley once again adjusted the lineup, starting Jonathan Bornstein at left back, sliding captain Carlos Bocanegra into the middle, Maurice Edu in the defensive midfield slot, and Herculez Gomez at forward for Robbie Findley, sitting due to a second (questionable) yellow card.

Those changes gave the U.S. side more offensive options, while also spreading World Cup experience across virtually the entire bench. Early on, the addition of Gomez looked to make the offense more versatile. In the 20th minute of the first half, it seemed that change, in particular, was to pay dividends, as a second effort shot, then cross, by Gomez, found Clint Dempsey on the back post. Dempsey slotted the ball home for seemingly an early lead, but the offsides flag was wrongly raised.

The World Cup of Refereeing this is not.....

Another great opportunity came in the 35th minute on a Dempsey break-through off a great passing combination from Altidore, then Landon Donovan, but the Algerian defense arrived at the very last instant, preventing a sure goal.

Tim Howard was solid in goal, with only one truly challenging Algerian effort early in the match finding the crossbar. The match was otherwise the Americans on the attack, and Algeria doing everything in their power to destroy the flow of the match, legally or otherwise. Dempsey and Jozy Altidore wore bulls-eyes all day long, and were constantly being ankle whacked, and in this case, elbowed in the mouth, with yellow cards being very slow to appear.

The one benefit of the constant fouling by Algeria (21 to our 11), and time-wasting through 'cramps' and other 'injuries' was the referees did decide to add four minutes of stoppage time as the 90 minutes drew near a close. In the second minute of that add-on time, Algeria made an offensive effort towards the U.S. goal, which was quickly gathered up by Howard. His long distribution throw targeted a Donovan run near midfield.....

.... an out, then in, dribble through the middle third by Donovan .....

..... found a curling right flank run by Altidore, who drew the defense enough to open space for a cross in search of Dempsey .....

.... from there, the melee' ensued, the ball bouncing out of the target area inside the six-yard box, into the path of Donovan, who had glided along behind the play in search of just such a rebound. My view was blocked. Landon's was not. A lightning strike .....
Pandemonium!

Landon Donovan is not a big man.
But make NO mistake, Landon Donovan is THE man.
He has time and time again put this team on his back, carrying them to places the rest of the world does not believe U.S. Soccer should be. Nothing is given this team, they work, they scrap, they persevere, they find a way.

When the final whistle blew, I was perhaps the closest person in the stadium to Landon.

The emotion that flooded out of him, hit me like a physical force, and with the wall of sound from the ecstatic U.S. crowd behind me, sheer joy was a palpable thing. Completely spontaneously, his grip on the game ball became the reflex to share, and some lucky person got the souvenir of a lifetime.

Donovan does not do what he does alone. He is a team guy, energized by highly-charged situations, and truly appreciates the extraordinary efforts it takes for supporters of this team to be there for these occasions. There is a sincerity and humility when he acknowledges the crowd at the end of such a match.

In the post-match press conference, emotion took hold of Donovan. After a moment to collect himself, he said:

“I’ve been through a lot in the last four years, and I’m so glad it culminated this way. It makes me believe in good in the world, and when you try to do things the right way it’s good to see them get rewarded.”

Wednesday, June 23rd, was just such a reward.
 To share it, makes so many of us, yes, Landon, believe.

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