Day 15 (USA v. Algeria)

Today was going to be a good day. After the late night in Polokwane, classes were canceled and all of us got some much needed sleep. After we awoke we began to pre-game for what would be the biggest game of the tournament. Hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, beer in the phu-vuvelas (vuvuzela beer bong) this was an American pre-game.

With more people joining forum nexus our group has expanded to 20+ students, yet I still feel closest to the original crew of travelers the new arrivals bring our girl numbers up, which is nice. The walk to the stadium is maybe ten minutes from our lodge so we were able to get in early and see the players warm up.

The match was an epic one, I was seated in the noisy Algerian section with few American fans near. In the first half, The U.S. squandered an early possession in which two wide-open shots inside the box bounced right off the Algerian goalkeeper, and then Dempsey got caught offside as he put the ball in the goal. Jozy Altidore blasted a sure goal over the crossbar to end the end of the first half, it only seemed a matter of time before the U.S. found the net.

The second half battle waged on with no goals, would the U.S. flop out in the group round for the 2nd straight World Cup in an ugly draw to essentially internationally irrelevant football team Algeria? This thought was in the forethought of our minds as the seconds ticked away and regulation time ended.

5 minutes extra time was added and our spirits were low, we believed but the odds looked grim. Then, Clint Dempsey, started a counterattack in the final minute. A U.S. shot bounced off the Algerian ‘keeper in what seemed to be the final missed opportunity.

The ball sat right in front of the ‘6 yard box where the U.S. soccer hero Landon Donovan darted towards it and kicked the ball into the back of the net, and the U.S. to the next round.

Mayhem ensued, I fell over two rows of seats and had Rueven and Antonio two grown men piled on top of me, we screamed, hugged and jumped for joy! The Algerians who had been so loud for the entire game sat in their seats stunned and silent at what they had just witnessed.

The partying continued as we moved to join in on a larger section of U.S. fans. The players came rallied the crowd more, we were in a pure state of jubilation. After an hour of screaming and chanting my body was sick. The fact that I was at the most important game in U.S. soccer history is unbelievable.