Pretoria, June 23 (DPA) Landon Donovan struck in stoppage time as the United States jumped off the World Cup death-bed to first place in Group C with a 1-0 victory over Algeria.
The LA Galaxy star Donovan drilled home his 44th US goal for a place in the Round of 16 after the team had earlier wasted a host of chances. Algeria captain Antar Yahia was dismissed for a second bookable offence after the goal.
The US topped the final group standings on goals scored ahead of England (1-0 winners over Slovenia in the other game), with both on five points. Slovenia were cruelly eliminated on four and Algeria on one point.
The unlikely US rescue came 12 months after the team had a miracle run into the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, beating Euro champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing the decider against Brazil.
‘I’ve been on a long journey for the last four years and I’m just shocked and so proud of our guys. We had to take some risks, our guys were great at the back. People that know me closest know how hard I’ve worked for this. We’re not done yet,’ said Donovan.
Coach Bob Bradley struck a similar note: ‘These guys put a lot into it they never quit. These guys kept going. We are proud to have finished first in our group with five points and didn’t lose. We are ready.’
Both sides were condemned to win at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to stand a chance of making the last-16.
Algeria got the first chance with the new forward Rafik Djebbour smashing the ball against the bar in the sixth minute.
Midfielder Karim Matmour was lively but Algeria were soon pinned back and their goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli was the centre of attention as the US went in search of the victory they needed to survive.
The Slavia Sofia keeper parried from Hercules Gomez in the seventh and again in the 20th under the eyes of ex-US president Bill Clinton.
Fulham striker Clint Dempsey slotted home on the rebound but was ruled offside. TV evidence revealed that the goal should have stood and coach Bradley was furious on the sidelines.
The US also had a potential winner against Slovenia controversially cancelled.
The US attack continued, though, with M’Behli denying Dempsey in the 35th and Villarreal striker Altiore amazingly failing to find the net from almost point-blank range another minute later.
The scenery was unchanged after the break but the US could simply not break through.
Dempsey’s 57th-minute curler after a defensive error came back off the right inside post and he wildly fired wide on the second chance.
The coach’s son Michael Bradley also tried his luck in vain with a 79th-minute free-kick but tiring Algeria appeared to hold on to the 0-0 scoreline as they had against England Friday.
However, Dononvan then rescued them in the first of four minutes of added time, on the rebound after M’Behli had saved again from Altidore.
And the late drama was not over as Yahia got his marching orders from Belgian referee Frank de Bleekere.
