BRENT LATHAM – Sorry for the delay getting this up, I know you love to read ASAP about a thrilling victory like this. I had to do the job I get payed for first. My column in tomorrow’s La Prensa Libre here in Guatemala is entitled: The Day U.S. Soccer Came of Age (just in spanish).
I think that sums it up. There have been no bigger victories in U.S. soccer history. The 2002 team’s defeat of Mexico is still probably just a little more important, but it’s not bigger. This one puts U.S. soccer over the top, and opens the door for an extraordinary run with Group D’s second place team and then Uruguay or South Korea on tap.Without Landon Donovan’s 91st minute goal, all that possibility, the chance to beat England and win the group, would have been lost in failure. The difference between success and failure at the World Cup is that tight. Now would be a good time to go back and read this piece on just that.
The Americans had always played the best soccer in Group C, good, positive attacking football. But they were on the brink of being bad lucked and reffed right out of the tournament. Only their incredible fighting spirit changed that. Give Bob Bradley a lot of credit for this one too. But more on that soon.
Here are your ratings, then we can all get to pulling for Germany to win their group (or go ahead and get knocked out).
Tim Howard, GK, 7.5 – Howard was rarely tested by an Algerian side that really only looked like scoring in the first 10 minutes. (Aside: why were they packing it in so much when they needed to win by 2?) T-Ho gets an extra nudge for feeding Donovan brilliantly on the winning goal.
Steve Cherundolo, D, 8 – Another great game for the right back, who defended perfectly and got into the attack. Nearly had an assist on Buddle’s late header.
Jay DeMerit, D, 7.5 – After an early keystone cops impression, DeMerit got his act together and steward’ed the defense the rest of the game.
Carlos Bocanegra, D, 7.5 – Boca was rarely seen, except when safely clearing the ball from danger – that’s good news for a CB. Also saved a goal with a great tackle in the second half.
Jonathan Bornstein, D, 7 -Not spectacular in passing, but held his own in the back. Algeria gave up on trying to exploit his side after about a half an hour. Would have been nice to have some better passing when he got forward, but at least he didn’t give up a goal.
Maurice Edu, MF, 6 – Did what he was supposed to, ran tirelessly and stopped up the Algerian passing attack. Edu’s passing could have been much better though.
Michael Bradley, MF, 8 – This was an incredible game for the coach’s son. His best yet in an American jersey for my money. Bradley ran tirelessly, and stayed back when he needed to. He might have gotten forward a little more, but there’s not much to complain about.
Landon Donovan, MF, 8 – Was a threat for much of the match. His grade would be lower but he’s got to get credit for doing what no one else could – putting the ball in the net and getting the U.S. through.
Clint Dempsey, MF, 7 – Dempsey’s day will have to be another one. He fought and scrapped but couldn’t get the ball in the net when the U.S. most needed it. But his hustle on the final goal was essential to the win.
Herculez Gomez, F, 6 – Gomez did well, though it still seems like he’ more effective as a sub. He really needed to put his open chance away, but should have had an assist on the play anyway.
Jozy Altidore, F, 7.5 – Altidore’s best game ever as an American. He’s become so dangerous on the turn as well as holding and distributing well. But he just can’t seem to put the ball in the net, which is troubling.
Subs
Benny Feilhaber, MF, 6 – Feilhaber did well going forward but couldn’t get the last pass made. He also tracked back well. The problem with his sub for Gomez was that it took a goal scoring threat off for a player who is not really a threat to score.
Edson Buddle, F, 6.5 - This was a good sub. Buddle paired well with Altidore, they make a powerful combo. Budson cam tantalizingly close on a number of occasions, he has a good nose for goal if a bit unrefined.
DaMarcus Beasley, MF, NR – Didn’t have much impact in ten minutes. Nice that he saw the field in a third World Cup though.
Coach Bob Bradley, 7.5 – Bradley wasn’t afraid to put the team he felt could win on the field, and he gave the U.S. their best chance to win by doing so. Bornstein paid back his confidence, and Gomez made some things happen.
The changes were pretty good too, even if I didn’t love the Feilhaber sub. I would have rather seen Stuart Holden out wide for his crossing. But the Budson sub was early and aggressive. The final piece of the puzzle might not have been Beasley, but that’s a small detail.
Had the U.S. been knocked out, it would have been hard to blame Bradley and not bad luck. With the team through, overcoming adverse cirsumstances, let’s give him some credit.