Yankee Doodle Landy: Donovan's 91st Minute Goal Wins Group C For The United States

The jubilation over the United States’ thrilling, extra time victory over Algeria still hasn’t died down but you can be sure that the team has already begun thinking about their next opponent (or at least they will be when they wake up…).

The US will take on Ghana in the round of 16, a team that beat them 2-1 in the last game of group play in the 2006 World Cup. Prior to that result the United States had drawn with Italy 1-1, in what ended up being the only match of that Cup that the Italians did not win. Hopes were high after that tie, but the Black Stars controlled most of the game and sent the United States back home. Once again Ghana stands in the way of advancing to the next round, however this time that next round will bring take the States back to the quarterfinals for only the second time since 1930 and it would allow them to extract a little revenge as well.

Take a look at Ghana’s results from Group D, where they finished second behind Germany:

Ghana 1 – Serbia 0
Ghana 1 – Australia 1
Ghana 0 – Germany 1

Game time is set for Saturday, June 26 at 2:30 (EST). The Black Stars are a young, but very fast and physical squad that will give the USMNT fits, but if they can get into the quarterfinals, a very winnable match against either Uruguay or South Korea looms.

While walking through the interview zone at Loftus Versfeld Stadium following the 1-0 loss to the United States, Algeria player Rafik Saifi walked up to a female journalist representing an Algerian newspaper and slapped her across the face.

Asma Halimi, who works for the newspaper Competition, struck the player back in his mouth. He then threw a sports drink at a wall as Halimi was escorted away. It appears the two have a little history.

“I said nothing to him and he reached over and hit me,” Halimi said to Yahoo! Sports. “So I hit him back. I said nothing to him first.”

It is understood that Saifi and Halimi had previously had a difference of opinion over an article she wrote for her newspaper.

“She was standing there and the guy came here and he hit her,” said Francisco Aguilar Chang, a reporter from Guatemala who witnessed the incident. “Then she hit him back and her nail caught his lip.”

Neither Saifi nor Algerian soccer officials responded to requests for a reaction by Yahoo! Sports. Halimi said she would indeed file a complaint with FIFA and the Algerian Football Association.

Enjoy watching over 90 minutes of emotionally excruciating soccer? You're in luck. ESPN will be airing a complete replay of Wednesday's USA vs Algeria match. In case you haven't seen it, I won't ruin the ending for you. 

Tune in to ESPN Classic Wednesday night at 6 P.M. ET or ESPN2 at 1 A.M. for the the full replay of the epic match. However, if I was you I'd wait until about 2:30 A.M or so to check in. I have a feeling something memorable is going to happen in extra time. Just guessing.

On Wednesday, against Algeria, in the 91st minute, Landon Donovan scored the greatest goal in U.S. soccer history. This is best presented without further comment.

So many great moments.

• Tim Howard's unbelievablly accurate outlet pass to Donovan.
• Ian Darke's brilliant call: "And Donovan has scored! oh, can you believe this?! Goal, goal, USA! Certainly through! Oh, it's incredible! You could not write a script like this!"
• Darke then handling the analysis for John Harkes, the former USMNT midfielder who was seemingly too overwhelmed with emotion to fully describe what just happened.
• Oh, and, you know, the goal itself. It was indeed, "breathtakingly exciting." 

(Video via Dan Levy)

When the 90th minute came around, the United States was out of the World Cup England had beaten Slovenia to move to the top of Group C, and the United States’ 0-0 draw would leave them one point behind Slovenia for second place.

It took only seconds – one counter attack – to put the United States through to the knockout stage of the World Cup, with Landon Donovan cleaning-up the rebound of a Jozy Altidore shot to give the United States a 1-0 win over Algeria.

The play started in the U.S.‘s end, with an Algeria header saved by Tim Howard at his right post. Howard then sprung the States into a counter attack, where Donovan fed the ball to Jozy Altidore to the right of the penalty area. The striker’s shot was saved by Rais M’Bolhu, who gave up a rebound in front of goal. Donovan ran onto the ball and finished from nine yards out to given the United States their first group win in the their World Cup history.

The result comes as redemption for another frustrating match for the United States, who saw another goal controversially disallowed. Clint Dempsey’s apparent opener was judged to be from an offside position, though replays showed the attacker to be onside.

Meanwhile, England’s 1-0 lead on Slovenia meant the United States would finish third in their group without a victory, and for most of the match, it looked like the winning goal would not come. While the United States was exclusively creating the match’s best chances, luck such as Clint Dempsey hitting the post in the 57th minute or Edson Buddle heading a ball into the `keeper from four yards out seemed to point the U.S. to an early, if undefeated, World Cup exit.

But with his second goal of the tournament, Donovan made the bad calls and near-misses distant memory, putting the United States through to the knockout stage. When the whistle blew two minutes later, the U.S. had won a World Cup group for the first time in history, finishing with five points and beating England on the goals for tiebreaker.

For Donovan, who is now the scorer of the most famous goal in United States soccer history, it is a personal triumph that brings his year full circle. In that time, Donovan has regained the captaincy of the Los Angeles Galaxy, let the team to the MLS Cup final, won Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award, and silences his critics with a successful loan spell at Everton in the English Premier League.

And today, Donovan completed his legacy by leading the U.S. to the top of Group C, winning the group over England, and leading the team into the World Cup’s knockout stage.

The United States is almost certainly into the knockout stage after a 91st minute counter attack was finished by Landon Donovan to put the U.S. up 1-0.

Moments after the Algerians had their best chance of the match, a header at Tim Howard’s right post, the United States broke out on the counter attack, with Landon Donovan feeding Jozy Altidore to the right of the break. Altidore’s shot was saved by Rais M’Bolhu, but the rebound was finished by Donovan for a 1-0 lead.

With the goal, the United States in on track to win Group C, with England having beating Slovenia 1-0.

Algeria defender Antar Yahia, already on a yellow card, has received some good fortunate, where he attempt to keep Clint Dempsey from chasing a ball in the Algeria ended with a swing to Dempsey’s face, went unnoticed, and kept Yahia in the match.

Dempsey, with Yahia’s back turned to him, tried to run around the right side of the Algerian defender to chase a ball going to the Algerian goalkeeper. Yahia noticed Dempsey an flunk his right arm toward the attacker, catching Dempsey in the mouth, drawing blood.

The play went unnoticed by the officiating crew, with Dempsey eventually going to the sideline for treatment.

The United States look set to spend the last ten minutes of the match in a 3-4-3 formation, having brought on DaMarcus Beasley for Jonathan Bornstein.

Beasley is likely to play on the left of midfield, an option to cross from the left for Edson Buddle and Jozy Altidore.

The match remains scoreless in the 80th minute, with both teams being eliminated if current scores hold.

A cross from Benny Feilhaber in the 69th minute was met by Edson Buddle, who header from five yards out was headed directly into Rais M’Bolhu, who kept the match even, 0-0.

M’Bolhu immediate sprung Algeria on a counter attack the ended with a Karim Ziani shot from the right of goal, 15 yards out. The Algeria midfielder pulled it wide in the first sign that both teams were ready to open-up play.

Both teams need wins to have a chance to survive. As the Group C matches stand, both the United States and Algeria would be eliminated.

Bob Bradley has made his second change, bringing in Edson Buddle for Maurice Edu in the 65th minute.

The move likely moves Clint Dempsey back to the left wing and Benny Feilhaber to central midfield, with Buddle partnering Jozy Altidore in the forward positions.

Clint Dempsey has gone close again, finishing a 57th minute counter attack by putting a shot off Rais M’Bolhu’s left post.

A counter attack was played through the left wing and Jozy Altidore, whose pass across the top of the box eventually found it’s way to an oncoming Clint Dempsey. After a touch Dempsey was able to float a ball toward the right side of goal, hitting the post squarely.

The ball came back to Dempsey who, running to the left of goal, put a left-footed shot over the net from eight yards out.

Midfielder Benny Feilhaber has been brought on at halftime. Herculez Gomez, how was in on the play that created Clint Dempsey’s 20th minute non-goal, has been brought off.

Clint Dempsey will likely assume the supporting stiker’s role, with Feilhaber starting at left wing.

The United States had a 20th minute goal taken off the board when a controversial offside call went against the U.S., canceling a Clint Dempsey goal and keeping the team scoreless at halftime against the Algerians.

Dempsey stabbed a left-footed finish into an undefended net mid-way through the first half, but the U.S. attacker was adjudicated offside. Replays showed Dempsey onside, with Algeria defender Mahjid Bougherra keeping him on from three yards out.

Dempsey’s was not the U.S.’s only chance, having generated other opportunities for Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez and Jozy Altidore amidst a half of soccer dominated by the Americans.

Algeria had the first good chance of the match, with a right-footed half-volley from Rafik Djebbour hitting the cross bar early.

Clint Dempsey appeared to have put the United States ahead in the 20th minute, but a close offside call that went against the United States’ wiped Dempsey’s left-footed finished off the scoresheet, keeping the match scoreless.

Michael Bradley broke into attack at the edge of the box only to be collapsed upon by three Algerian defenders. The ball eventually found an open Herculez Gomez on the right wing, who had a point blank shot saved by Rais M’Bolhu. The rebound to Gomez found its way to Dempsey at the far post, who touched the ball into the open net.

Replays showed that Dempsey, three yards from goal, was probably even with Algerian defender Mahjid Bougherra.

The U.S. starting 11 has been named, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, and U.S. Men's National Team coach Bob Bradley has made some changes for Wednesday's crucial match with Algeria: Herculez Gomez replaces Robbie Findley, Maurice Edu is on for Jose Torres and Jonathan Bornstein instead of Oguchi Onyewu. Your surprise likely matches Wahl's:

While Gomez has had his moments, and should hopefully compliment Jozy Altidore up top, it's the inclusion of Bornstein that is especially troubling, even with Gooch's noticeable defensive lapses in South Africa.

Again, Wahl says it best: "Ton of pressure on oft-criticized Jonathan Bornstein today. Can he handle it?" We'll soon find out.