From bigsoccer.com:
-artesian
"I take back everything I've said."
-pathogen
"I remember following Bigsoccer pbp threads in the 2000 olympics waiting for Landon to come on and save the day...ten years later he's still the mothereffing man."
-miked9
"This team is gonna kill me."
-knave
"I literally have tears coming down my face right now. The amount of pride I have for those players in South Africa is overwhelming. They represent EVERY F**CKING THING I stand for as an American. I couldn't be happier."
-sempuukyaku
*************
Rarely in life is justice served. Today was the exception. Despite having two legitimate goals waived off during this World Cup, the US still dramatically finished atop their group to advance to the hallowed knockout stage.
For those of us that have followed the team for decades, this is a near-perfect moment. It might be strange for people to think that merely advancing to the final-16 should be such an accomplishment. That's the beauty of the World Cup. Teams spend two years just qualifying for it. Then you play just three games. Every pass, every touch has immense pressure. A goal in the World Cup practically guarantees a contract with a European club. Even a good showing (like Frankie Hejduk in '98) will get a player noticed. And, with the weight of the nation on his shoulders, Landon Donovan delivered.
He's only 28, but it seems like he's been around forever. He burst on the scene as a 16 year old, winning the Golden Ball at the U-17 World Cup in 1999. Then Bruce Arena adopted the youngster quickly into the senior side, and Landon was a key player in the '02 World Cup. His career took a detour after a string of poor performances for his German club, Bayer Leverkusen, eventually landing back in MLS.
With his demotion to MLS, the boo-birds were out in full force when the US crashed out of the '06 World Cup. Donovan did not play well, and he was the main target. Soccer fans thought he wasn't challenging himself by his decision to stay in MLS. Well, four years later, Donovan is still in MLS, but he's now carrying the national team to the knockout stage. The culmination of four years of self-doubt, tireless work, and determination.
A brief stint at Everton earlier this year showed flashes of Donovan's resurgence. He was calm and savvy with the ball. He fit in easily with the Premier League squad and helped fuel their rise of the table. Predictably, US fans were upset he couldn't find a way to stay at Everton, but no doubt all is forgiven now. Donovan stepped up when it mattered most. Now, he's an American hero:
But it almost didn't happen.
Within a few moments of the opening whistle, Jay Demerit mistimed a clearance, which allowed Algeria a free shot on net. It was a difficult half-volley, but the ball beat Tim Howard and rattled off the cross-bar. The US then quickly countered with newcomer Hercules Gomez. With the goalie sensing cross, Gomez surprised the goalie by shooting near-post from distance. With a little more height, the ball may have snuck in, instead of deflecting out for a corner.
While the US defense looked a tad suspect, the Algerians' best chance of the half remained that missed half-volley. But the US attack continued unabated. Minutes later, Donovan ripped an open shot way high. The controversial play of the day occurred in the 20th minute. After some brilliant work by Michael Bradley, the ball found Hercules about 10 yards out. He whipped the ball at the net, and it deflected to an open Dempsey near the goal-line who put it in the back of the net.
I leapt up for joy.
Then crashed down.
No goal. Offsides. Or was it? Of course not. Another legit US goal incorrectly waived off. While I suck into the couch, I was happy the players were unfazed. They continued to pressure. Later, Dempsey took a good through-ball from Donovan that was saved by the keeper. Then Donovan and Altidore got in each other's way on a sitter from six yards out. With the ball settling nicely, both Donovan and Altidore swung at it, and the ball sailed harmlessly off-mark. Unbelievable.
At halftime, Bob Bradley took out Hercules and moved Dempsey up top. Feilhaber took his spot in midfield. The move almost paid immediate dividends. In the 57th minute, a great pass from Altidore found Dempsey at the top of the box. Dempsey calmly placed the ball to the right of the keeper. It bounced off the post across the goal and found Dempsey again. But his left foot volley -- with an open goal staring him in the face -- sailed way wide!
The next 30 minutes were end-to-end action. Algeria looked dangerous on the counter, as the US pushed their midfield forward. After a slew of headers by Altidore and Edson Buddle (a late sub) went right at the Algerian keeper, it seemed fate was not favoring the US.
In stoppage time, Algeria had a five-on-four. Star midfielder Ziani sent a perfect cross to two completely unmarked Algerians waiting far post. Somehow, the headed shot went right to Howard. Howard then unleashed a perfect outlet to a sprinting Donovan. His first touch seemed too far ahead, but the Algerian defender opted not to tackle. That allowed Donovan to feed Altidor to the right of goal. Altidore sent a low pass to the onrushing Dempsey at the penalty marker. Dempsey narrowly beat the goalie to the ball, and his shot deflected off the goalie and settled perfectly for Donovan. As Donovan said, it was as if the world stopped - "I couldn't miss from there." He didn't. He perfectly placed the ball in the far corner for a 1-0 lead.
The players mobbed Donovan at the corner. Four years of frustration unleashed in a matter of moments.
As someone who follows this team through thick-and-thin, it was a moment of sublime joy. I actually got misty. Can't remember the last time that happened at a sporting event. Could be the first time. And for a player like Donovan, so unjustly reviled by the soccer elitists, it was unbridled jubilation.
The grades:
Everybody gets and A+. It's a team game, and they got the result under intense pressure.
I would like to single out a few players. Michael Bradley played great. His poise on the ball has improved dramatically the past year. He's grown from a defensive middie to a more traditional distributing middie. He always seems to find the open man, and he timed his defensive tackles perfectly. Dempsey and Altidore also played brilliantly. While neither finished, they created countless opportunities. On any other day, they'd each have a goal, if not two. And Jonathan Bornstein, who I was so nervous to see in the starting lineup, totally stepped up. He had little difficulty shutting down his man on the left side of defense.
It's all good, folks. The USA is through.
Plus, they avoid any traditional powers until the final four. If th US defeats Ghana, then they get either Uruguay or South Korea.
ReplyDeleteThat's a hell of a lot better than England's route to the final four: Germany and then presumably Argentina.
I'm happy they got Ghana too. Time for some '06 REVENGE.
ReplyDeleteThe US has lived dangerously on defense these three games. Flying under the radar is the fact that Algeria could've easily scored right prior to Donovan's goal. And, of course, they hit the crossbar. The US defense is still porous, and Ghana will likely get at least one. Have to hope the US offense comes out striking once again.
Agree completely about Ghana's likelihood of scoring. We knew going in that our defense was porous, and they've certainly lived up to that. Ghana has speed and smarts up top, we've got to do a better job of closing up gaps and keeping a tight line.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I want to go back to the Algeria game for a second... First, I was down on Landon as he seemed to have disappeared in the second half - then, boom. Second, I had Jozy as man of the match, no question. His first touch has improved dramatically since I last watched him, and he not only had chances himself, he was creating for others. Many strikers would've put that ball on net, but he wisely centered, and now we're on to the knockout stage. Still so psyched!
One more thing about Jozy...
ReplyDeleteHow can this guy not make the Villareal roster? Two years in a row of getting loaned out. With such a strong WC, my hope is he gets a fair shake with them this year. He could partner with fellow yank, Guiseppi Rossi.
Speaking of Rossi, it must be extraordinarily strange for that kid right now. Not only did he get dumped from the Italian national team, but the Italians are already out of the tourney, while the US survived. Crazy. I don't hold any grudge against the kid - he's totally entitled to play for any country he likes. But I imagine he's having second thoughts.