The Ticket Chest

GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL! USA Men’s Soccer Team Advances with Thrilling 1-0 Win over Algeria

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 | Soccer, Team USA, World Cup 2010 | No Comments

It didn’t look good for the US team, but somehow they wrote their Hollywood-ending in dramatic fashion when team leader Landon Donovan drove home the game-winning goal off of a rebound of a save by Algerian Goalie Rasi Bolhi.  Donovan’s goal gave the US team a 1-nil (I love saying that word) win and catapulted the US Team to the top of the Group C Standings (England’s 1-0 win over Slovenia allowed England to advance to the knockout round as well with 4 points – just 1 point behind Team USA).  It was a satisfying, yet frustrating win for Team USA.  After squandering several chances early on and having one goal called back because of a phantom off-sides call, it looked like the squad would return home without even advancing into the knockout round.

But Donovan’s heroics paved the way for the celebration for Team USA and millions of fans back home in the U.S.  Donovan raced down the field with the ball and set up Jozy Altidore who sent a low cross to Clint Dempsey for an excellent shot on net that Bolhi somehow saved.  But the ball bounced out in front of the net and Donovan was there to make sure he didn’t miss (like teammate Jozy Altidore did earlier in the game).  Donovan was amazed with the outcome — “Hands down the biggest moment in my career… I’m shocked.  I’m proud of our guys. Unbelievable.  Clint made a good run in the middle, the ball fell to me … time kind of stopped.  You can’t miss from there… I had a long hard look and decided I was going to do things a different way (after the disappointing World Cup finish in Germany in 2006).  That no longer was I going to just rely on my ability.  I was going to try to be the best, every time.  I knew that if I got another chance at a World Cup I was going to take it.”

With the win, the US Team advances to the knockout round to take on the 2nd place team from Group D – Ghana.  The game is slated for Saturday June 26th.  Will we have another miracle finish?  Let’s hope so.  GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!

Tags: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan

Team USA Qualifies for World Cup 2010

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 | Connor Casey, Landon Donovan, Soccer, Sports, Team USA, World Cup 2010 | No Comments

Team USA defeated Honduras 3-2 on Saturday night to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.  Team USA became the 1st CONCACAF team to defeat Honduras in Honduras.  Connor Casey scored his 1st 2 international goals to pace Team USA. Landon Donovan scored a goal in the 2nd half to give Team USA a 3-1 win, but Honduras cut the lead to 3-2 in the 78th minute.  Team USA endured a scare when Stuart Holden was called for a hand ball in the penalty area with just 3 minutes to play.  But Honduras player Carlos Paven sailed the penalthy kick well over the crossbar and the Americans celebrated the 3-2 win.

USA was 6-2-1 in CONCACAF qualifying play for teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean.  Team USA leads the bracket with 19 points.