The United States' performance in South Africa 2010 was different parts encouraging, stressful, joyful and disappointing. Going into the tournament, hopes were high. The USA was spurred on by a surprising run in the 2009 Confederations Cup that saw the team advance further than ever before in a FIFA tournament. After beating Egypt 3-0 in their final group game to make the knockout rounds, the USA shocked #1-ranked Spain in the semi-finals and led 2-0 at halftime in the final against Brazil before falling 3-2. And unlike 2014, the 2010 World Cup draw was favorable to the USA placing them in a group with England, Slovenia and Algeria; the English press also felt this was a workable group.
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The USA started their tournament with a difficult match against group-favorites England. The English had breezed through their qualifying group undefeated, and despite the fantastical pessimism that surrounds them, the English squad was considered a contender. Only four minutes into the game, Steven Gerrard opened the scoring for England, and worst-case scenarios fluttered for USA fans. The USA settled down after the goal though, and the Americans drew level late in the first half when English keeper Robert Green's howler granted them an equalizer. In the second half, England had more chances, but Jozy Altidore went closest when his strike was pushed onto the post by Green. After 90 minutes, the Americans walked away with a valuable point that left them in good shape heading into their two remaining group games. (England-USA HIGHLIGHTS)
In their second match, the USA faced relative unknown Slovenia. After the encouraging draw with England, this was a great chance for the US to take all three points and put one foot in the second round. Things went horribly wrong in the first half. Valter Birsa gave Slovenia the lead after only 13 minutes, and Zlatan Ljubijankic doubled their advantage just before halftime. Fans of the USA usually teeter somewhere between optimism that the team has turned a corner and fear that some bubble will burst. The first-half against Slovenia fell squarely in the latter.
But there still a second-half to be played, and what a half it was. The USA looked a new side coming out of the locker room and quickly had Slovenia on the back foot. The Americans broke through in the 48th minute when Donovan nearly rearranged the Slovenian keeper's face from five yards out. The USA were level in the 82nd minute from a Michael Bradley goal, and they were unfortunate to have a third goal waived off for a phantom foul. The disallowed goal left a sense of injustice, but after the wretched first half, a draw was acceptable for the USA. They still had every chance to qualify for the knockout stages. (USA-Slovenia HIGHLIGHTS)
After their two draws, the USA found themselves in the desirable position of needing only to beat group minnows Algeria to guarantee advancement to the knockout stages of the tournament. Algeria hit the crossbar in the sixth minute nearly opening the scoring, but it was constant USA pressure afterwards. The game had an open feel to it, and the USA attacked the Algerian goal in waves. Hercules Gomez saw a long-distance effort briefly worry the keeper. Clint Dempsey had a goal disallowed on a debatable offsides call. Altidore skied a shot over an open net from six yards out. The teams entered half-time scoreless, but USA fans were left feeling that surely the breakthrough was coming.
The second-half saw more of the same as the USA drove forward. In the 57th minute, Dempsey hit the post and squandered the rebound with an open goal gaping. Frustration mounted, and doubt started to creep in whispering that maybe this would be one of those nights. Edson Buddle saw his point-blank header parried away in the 68th minute. An Algerian defender nearly knocked a cross into his own goal two minutes later. Michael Bradley's vicious free kick stung the hands of the goalie in the 79th minute. The clock ticked inexorably towards 90 minutes without a breakthrough, and when the game entered second-half stoppage time, USA supporters could feel the impending despair that only coming up short in a quadrennial event can bring. Then, in slightly longer than the blink of an eye, it was Tim Howard to Donovan to Altidore to Dempsey to… a goal indelibly etched into American soccer history by commentator Ian Darke.
In those few seconds, despair morphed into suspension, hope, and utter joy. There's no rule that sports has to grant you a moment like this, so when it happens, cherish it...
Donovan's goal put the USA through to the knockout stages for the first time since 2002 and, combined with England's defeat of Slovenia, it helped the USA do something it hadn't achieved since the inaugural World Cup in 1930: finish top of their group.
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FOR PART II, CLICK HERE.