USA! USA! USA!

In case you haven't heard, the US soccer team advanced to the knockout round (like the Sweet 16) of the World Cup today with a dramatic 1-0 win over Algeria. It was a must win game to get to the next round. The US had Slovenia beat, but the go-ahead goal was mysteriously and incorrectly overturned by a ref you won't see the rest of the Cup. My friends from work and I went to Applebees close to work to catch the second half of the game. It was an intense half with many close chances for the US, including one shot by Clint Dempsey that hit the post, only to come back to him with a wide open net, but he hit the 2nd chance shot OVER the goal! The game was almost over. Stoppage time had just been added and England was up 1-0 on Slovenia. If the US tied Algeria, which looked like a near certainty, the US was going home empty handed and extremely disappointed. This was supposed to be the year that we made some noise at the World Cup and built on the respect we earned after beating Spain and playing Brazil well at the Confederations Cup. Then, 1 minute into stoppage time, this happened.

Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The place went nuts. We definitely weren't the only US soccer fans there. It was amazing. I especially like the celebration and the player in the purple warm-up jersey celebrating by himself. Classic.

The emotions were crazy. It went from wow, Algeria had a great chance on goal to a beautiful outlet pass by Tim Howard. Landon Donovan played a great ball outside and it was crossed into the box a little ahead of Dempsey (should've scored) and there is a big collision in the box. You think the play is dead and our chances are done, and then you see the ball come away from the keep and it sits there for what feels like forever. Then out of nowhere Donovan follows the play and buries the shot in the corner. Great play by a great player. It was pure euphoria. It was a great day.

So the US won the group and play Ghana this Saturday. Make sure you watch!