USA 1:0 Algeria: match report

Just as they were preparing the conspiracy theories, preparing to nurse their grievances and vent their spleens, justice was done.

The United States, thanks to Landon Donovan’s late, late show, top Group C and join the World Cup’s elite in the last 16.

For the second game in a row, the USA saw what appeared to be a perfectly valid goal ruled out. Where Maurice Edu suffered against Slovenia,

Clint Dempsey was the victim here, tapping home after Herculez Gomez had first fired straight down Rais M’Bolhi’s throat and then skewed the rebound wide.

Dempsey wheeled away in delight, convinced his far post conversion was enough to put Bob Bradley’s team on the road to victory, only to see Franck De Bleeckere, the Belgian referee, rule him offside.


It was tight, and it was an understandable error of judgment, but error it was. The USA fumed.

It set the tone for their day. De Bleeckere would have been the target of the USA’s rage, but the real culprit here was their own, entirely self-inflicted profligacy.

Twice they contrived to miss open goals, first through Jozy Altidore, then Clint Dempsey. A host of chances came and went.

None quite so clear-cut as those wasted, one in each half, by two of the Premier League contingent in Bob Bradley’s squad.

Altidore was the first to hold his head in his hands, wondering where it all went wrong, lashing into the steep stands of Loftus Versfeld after Donovan had wriggled to the edge of the six-yard box and even beaten the goalkeeper for him.

At least he is not alone. Dempsey was not quite so jaw-dropping, the Fulham player doing well to react to Antar Yahia’s inability to clear a harmless Altidore cross.

Dempsey’s initial effort, after a touch to steady his feet and his nerves, hit the post. The rebound, falling to his feet with Rais M’Bohli beaten, touched the sky.

It was clearly not Dempsey’s day, or Altidore‘s. The winger scuffed an effort at M’Bohli in the first half after more fine work from the lively Donovan, the striker headed straight at the excellent Algerian goalkeeper, reportedly and understandably a target for Newcastle, after the break.

Algeria, though, were not here merely to be patsies for an American onslaught. For great swathes of this game, Rabah Saadane’s side were the more impressive unit, their counter attacking menacing, their defence mean.

Rafik Djebbour, the muscular striker, set the tone, hitting the bar with the game’s first effort after pouncing on a slip from the unsteady Jay Demerit, while Karim Ziani wasted two golden opportunities as a game which had always been open degenerated into a free-for-all, both sides desperately pouring forward in search of the goal that would take either through.

It was Donovan who got it, and no player could have deserved it more.

The former Everton midfielder raced forward, one last desperate throw of the dice, and slid in Edson Buddle. The substitute’s shot was spilt, but straight into Donovan’s path. Ball into corner, players into pile.

All that separated the US from ecstasy was Yahia’s sudden, baffling dismissal – receiving two bookings in as many seconds, it seemed – but no matter.

Joy unbound at the final whistle, the entire USA bench pouring on to the pitch. Victory at last, over their opponents, over injustice and, most importantly, themselves.