Cardiac Yanks do it Again!
If you wrote a script that matched what has happened to this United States team in the last couple days and handed it to a Hollywood executive they would laugh at you and say nobody would believe it. At the end of the first half against Slovenia down 2-0 the US looked to be heading towards another first round exit. But an amazing second half comeback kept their hopes alive and all they needed today was a win against the weakest team in the group, seems simple right?
But in the first 10 minutes the US fans had their hearts jump up to their throat when an Algerian player had his shot go off the crossbar. After that the United States poured it on getting numerous chances including in the 21st minute when Clint Dempsey seemed to score the go ahead goal. But yet again the refs took away what should have been a goal.
As each minute passed and each golden opportunity slipped away it was looking more and more like their run was over. After a great chance for Algeria to score in stoppage time Tim Howard made a great outlet pass and they were off and running, and a couple passes later Landon Donovan again came up with a huge goal that sent the United States into a frenzy. Personally this was the most excited I have ever been for a game winning goal or point. This team embodies the persona of most Americans and this is why this team has captured the hearts of the USA. They never give up even with the cards stacked up against them they fought hard and never gave up and now they are in the Round of 16.
Soccer has never reached the popularity here in the states that it has over in Europe and other countries all over the world. But any sports fan that was not glued to your TV set for these last 2 USA matches I feel sorry for you because you missed what might have been some of the most exciting moments in US sports history, for the first time for me personally I cant wait until Saturday when the United States takes the field again. This team did something that I thought would never happen in the United States, make a soccer match must see TV. USA!!!
