American Dreamin'

Charles Klein

Like MC Hammer and a good song, you just couldn't write it. Landon Donovan scored a goal in the 91' that could write the future of United States Soccer for the next decade. Team USA emerge from group play with five points and as the top team in Group C.

Watching Team USA has felt like Groundhog Day for many fans in America. Each time the USA goes down early, only to have to battle back and score a late goal or two in order to emerge victorious. And it nearly went that way.

Algeria came within mere inches of taking an early 1-0 lead when Rafik Djebbour volleyed onto the crossbar of Tim Howard's net. From my vantage point on my couch it appeared that Djebbour was a step or two offside, but it mattered not.

After allowing Algeria to dictate much of the early possession, the USA began to take control of the match with both hands. Maurice Edu and Michael Bradley dovetailed beautifully in the center of the pitch, combining steel and creativity to give the USA a clear advantage. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan did not do enough to stretch out the Algerian defense, but did experience whatever joy they could on their forays into the center.

Dempsey nearly got the USA off to a great start in the 21' when he put a Herculez Gomez rebound into the back of the net. I stood up yelling in celebration only to have to cover my mouth in shock as I watched the official rule that Dempsey was offside. And after further review, it appeared that the referee was conned by the Algerian defense, who all raised their arms in unison when Dempsey scored. Truly unbelievable.

The next 69 minutes felt all too familiar for Sam's Army. Yet again we had to listen to Ian Darke and John Harkes go on about another unfortunate decision by an official that could have prematurely ended the USA's involvement in this tournament. While they were certainly right, it became nauseating fare for everyone watching. Why did we need to be reminded of that awful call in the Slovenia match?

Thankfully Landon Donovan took care of that. After Algeria threatened for what must have been the third time in the whole match, Tim Howard collected the ball and threw a pass Peyton Manning would be proud of to Landon Donovan on the right of midfield. Donovan charged up the right flank, taking on an Algerian defender and slotting a brilliant through ball to striker Jozy Altidore. Instead of going it alone, the young striker elected to center onto the foot of Clint Dempsey, whose shot careened off the chest of the Algerian keeper and right into the path of Donovan, who from that distance simply could not miss.

Donovan after the match was understandably elated.

"I've been through a lot in the last four years," Donovan said half an hour after the end, crying and his voice cracked. "I'm so glad it culminated this way. When you try to do things the right way, it's good to get rewarded."

Not only was it an important match for Team USA in this tournament, it was an absolutely pivotal game for USA soccer. Imagine if Donovan does not score on that rebound, that Team USA once again failed to advance from the group stage. What then would the headlines read? The cynics would once again say that soccer could never thrive in the United States, that American players simply could not hang with those from "soccer" nations and that soccer was just that sport that America was never meant to play.

Instead, the dream lives on because all eleven players wearing white on that beautiful green lawn in Pretoria, South Africa dared to believe in themselves when nearly everyone else didn't. As the Nike ad for this world cup says, the USA can 'write the future.' I thought it was funny that in that advertisement Nike didn't focus on one player, but rather chose to focus on team USA as simply that, a team. The team concept has carried them this far and just how much further has yet to be decided. What is undeniable is that by advancing as group winners for the first time since 1930 is that the USA have made progress and have come closer than ever to be a respected world, dare I say it, power (?).

It's all a bit premature, but perhaps the United States may look back 50 years from now at this match as the moment when soccer started to be taken seriously in this country. For now anyway, Team USA have accomplished their goal, which was to advance from the group stage. Whatever happens next, June 23, 2010 will remain a memorable day for all parties involved.

As the song goes, there's ya famous, there's ya famous, there's ya famous U-S-A.