And the US is ON to the next round.
A dramatic finish, as the US is wont to do, yet again. This time however, they didn’t play from a goal (or two) deficit– they held tight throughout the game, and Landon Donovan- the highest scoring American player in history– put a superb last touch on a frenzied goal opportunity, after regulation, in stoppage time.
Ah heck, why bother to explain.
Watch it, and if you’re a US soccer fan, get ready for chills.
Update later at night
I just read an article entitled, Time to start believing, US Fans which had this rather amazing passage which I would have never guessed would happen in America:
One detail: I had the pleasure of watching the games with a gentleman whose son attends the University of Alabama and was heartened by the knowledge that even there, in the depths of Crimson Tide country, the epitome of tobacco-chewing American sports culture, every bar had opened early, packed with nascent soccer fans.
Has America finally embraced the sport that I, and many others, have loved since we were kids? I mean, I’m not saying that this will rank up there with the NFL or the NBA anytime soon. But just as long as it’s not a ridiculed sport somewhere above curling and ice dancing, I’d be content.