Six years ago today, the American soccer landscape was forever changed.
Can you believe it's already the six year anniversary of Landon Donovan's legendary goal against Algeria?
On this day in 2010, Landon Donovan scored the most iconic goal in U.S. Soccer history when he slotted home a stoppage-time winner to give the USMNT a 1-0 victory over Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
With the Americans on level terms with Algeria in stoppage time and needing a win to earn a place in the Round of 16, the USMNT desperately pushed numbers forward in search of a goal. The play began innocently enough as a streaking Donovan received a frantic heave from goalkeeper Tim Howard, the Galaxy striker then finds Jozy Altidore, who played the ball across to Clint Dempsey, who had his opportunity saved but not handled by Algerian goalkeeper Raïs M'Bolhi.
M'Bolhi’s inability to control Dempsey’s shot allowed the ball to deflect perfectly toward the rushing Donovan, who easily finished from inside the penalty area. The goal sent the American team and millions of supporters at home and abroad into hysterics as the USMNT earned its first knockout round berth in eight years.
The USMNT were eliminated by Ghana in the next round of the tournament, but when they returned home, Bob Bradley’s squad was welcomed back as heroes to a great part due to Donovan’s heroics.
Where were you when Donovan scored his iconic goal?
Share your memories in the comments section below.
