Landon Donovan: "The Net Looked Like the Ocean"

For U.S. soccer fans, it was the goal heard round the world - Landon Donovan's 91st minute strike against Algeria Wednesday, reversing Team USA's fortunes from elimination to advancing - first in the group - in a single touch.

The play lasted just 12 seconds from U.S. goalie Tim Howard's quick save off a header to Donovan's goal. But it "felt like it was slow motion," Donovan said.

"In that moment, you're just trying to do what you can to put yourself in a good position," the U.S. midfielder and Wednesday hero told CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday. "And it doesn't mean every time the ball rolls to you, but if you put yourself in a good spot, it does."

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It did for Donovan. Taking the ball downfield he tapped it ahead to Jozy Altidore at the top of the Algerian box, leading to a crossing pass and shot from Clint Dempsey. But Donovan never ended his run. And the rebound came right to him.

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"When that ball came to me, the net looked like the ocean," Donovan said. "It was big. I knew I couldn't miss from there."

After that, "It was just pure excitement - joy, relief, happiness." The U.S. won 1-0 and will move on to face Ghana Saturday in the knockout phase.

The goal may have been just a little sweeter after the U.S.'s series of missed opportunities and disallowed goals, stretching back to its match against Slovenia last Friday. Against Algeria, Dempsey had a first-half goal taken away on an offsides call that did not appear to hold up on replay.

But Donovan has consistently talked about moving forward and not dwelling on questions of officiating fairness.

"At that moment there's nothing you can do. Once the goal is called off, it's called off. That's the reality of the situation in that moment," he said. "Is it frustrating? Yeah. But you have to keep going. I think it was more frustrating having all those chances and not scoring."

Donovan said he's glad that clinching the group means playing Ghana and not the other alternative, Germany, "Who's a very, very good team. Ghana are still a good team, but that's a team we feel like we match up well with and a team we can beat."

Two days to recover isn't much in the soccer world, Donovan said, but "We'll give it everything we have Saturday and hopefully do something even more special."

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