GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL!!!

Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you work harder than the other team.

Other times the planets and stars align and there's no way you're going to lose. I happen to think this is what happened the United States yesterday in the World Cup. How else can you explain it?

It was the first time the US has shut out their opponent in the first half this World Cup, and the first time earning a clean sheet for the entire game in 19 games. It was the first time the US has earned points in their last group game in any World Cup. It was the first time since the very first World Cup that the US has won their group. It was the latest goal scored by any team at that point during this World Cup (later to be out done by an Italian goal in the 92nd minute). It was scored by the most veteran, most storied, and most successful player in US Soccer history.

Like the announcer said immediately following Landon Donovan's 91st minute goal, "You could not write a script like this."

Not only had the United States survived a shot off the crossbar in the 6th minute, but they had yet another goal taken away from them in the 20th minute. Fast forward past 70 minutes of gut wrenching near misses, persistent fouling of two American forwards, and near depression caused by the knowledge that unless the US scored, they were going home for the second World Cup in a row. Then everything changed in the span of about 15 seconds.

Tim Howard, the US goalkeeper, saved a shot from Algeria and immediately ran to the top of the penalty box and threw the ball to Donovan. He then raced down the field starting a 4 on 2 counter-attack. A pass out to Jozy Altidore spread the defense. Altidore then played the ball in to Clint Dempsey, who just got a foot to it before the Algerian goalkeeper could control it. The rebound rolled out slowly out to the six yard box, right in the middle of the field where it rested while time stood still.

Then magically, Jupiter caught up to Saturn and the rest of the planets and there appeared Donovan. As he said in his post game interview, "Can't miss from there." Donovan buried the ball into the left side of the net, and began celebrating. Much like the rest of the United States did at the very same time.

It was also reported that the internet reached a spike in usage immediately following Donovan's game winning, and group winning goal. CBS reported that the Akamai Net Usage Index, which measures internet usage, showed that the numbers spiked at 11.2 million people using the internet in the minutes following the goal. The second highest usage ever, less than a million short of the first day of the World Cup. But almost 3 million more than Barack Obama being voted president.

Donovan also said in his post game interview, "We embody what Americans are about." when speaking about the disallowed goal earlier in the match. "We can moan about it or we can get on with it.... We're alive baby." said Donovan. The determination and effort shown by the United States team will be exactly what they need to stay alive.

The United States team have their shortest time between games so far in the World Cup, playing Saturday against Ghana. Ghana placed second in Group D, after losing to Germany in their last game. If the US advance, they will play the winner of South Korea and Uruguay on the following Friday, July 2nd.

Lastly, I leave you with the goal commentary done by one of the most famous soccer announcers of all time. I might not be able to understand anything in this clip other than Landon Donovan, Altidore, and Estados Unidos, but there is the one word that is understood across all languages:

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL!!!