Bookmaker Excitement as U.S. Gets Late Goal vs. Algeria to Advance. Landon Donovan scored one of the biggest goals in United States soccer history as the U.S. got a 1-0 win vs. the bookmaker odds against Algeria on Wednesday. With the win vs. Internet bookmaker odds, the U.S. not only advanced to the knockout round, they won Group C. They will now play the second place team from Group D on Saturday in the round of 16 in a match that can be seen on ABC.
It looked for a long time like the United States would be left out of the knockout round but Landon Donovan scored in injury time to give the U.S. a 1-0 win over Algeria. The U.S. was just three minutes away from elimination when Donovan brought the ball up field on a counter attack and Jozy Altidore put the pressure on. Altidore’s shot was tipped on goal by Clint Dempsey and the rebound went right out to Donovan who scored from about eight yards out. It was one of the biggest goals in U.S. history and puts the United States into the knockout round as the Group C winner.
The win by the United States was their first World Cup victory in eight years and their fifth shutout in World Cup play. It is the first time the United States won a group since 1930. It was the first group stage shutout for the United States in 19 matches. The shutout by goalkeeper Tim Howard was the first for the United States in World Cup play since 2002. The United States really dominated the match against Algeria and easily could have scored before Donovan’s late tally. The U.S. had 23 touches in the box and put eight shots on goal. Clint Dempsey had his goal waved off in the 21st minute on a questionable offside call and he hit the post in the 57th minute.
England defeated Slovenia in the other match in Group C vs. the Internet bookmaker odds. England and the United States both finished with five points and advance to the knockout round. The U.S. wins the group because they scored four goals while England scored just two. Slovenia finished with four points and just missed qualifying. Algeria was last in the group with one point.