USA line-up: Howard, Bocanegra (c), Bradley, Cherundolo, Dempsey, Gomez (Feilhaber, HT), Donovan, Bornstein (Beasley, 80'), DeMerit, Altidore, Edu (Buddle, 64')
Algeria line-up: Mbohli, Bougherra, Belhadj, Yahia (c), Halliche, Lacen, Djebbour (Ghezzal, 65'), Matmour (Saifi, 85'), Ziani (Guedioura, 69'), Yebda, Kadir
USA just about manage to sneak through and win the group and we also saw more Algerian indiscipline. Both teams required a win to give themselves a chance of progression and Algeria started brightest Matmour shot early on and Djebbour hit the crossbar just minutes into the match. He had another chance but spooned his header wide, from this USA retorted and Gomez and Dempsey looked to link up well and looked dangerous for Bob Bradley's team. Although the game started off rather on the Americans started to dominate possession as the half wore on and 21 minutes into the match Dempsey put the ball in the back of the net. After their 'winning' goal against Slovenia was controversially ruled out this goal again seemed touch and go as to whether Dempsey was offside or not, he looked level and USA most definitely thought so. Mbohli provided some clever saves to keep America level as they smelt a breakthrough that just couldn't materialise. Belhadj and Ziani seemed like the main curators for Algeria in the first half but although they looked dangerous they couldn't produce any masterclass stuff.
America again came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half but Dempsey, who thought it wasn't going to be his night, managed to curl his shot against the post before missing the rebound. Both teams created chances to take the all important lead but neither could find the target and the match was heading to a draw, putting England and Slovenia through. But Landon Donovan changed all that with a goal in the 91st minute; Altidore played a teasing cross into the box where Mbohli parried it to Donovan who tapped it into the empty net, which ultimately put them through as winners of the group and Slovenia slipped out of it. Algeria still had time to prove their ill discipline with Yahia getting a second yellow card in the 93rd minute but that was immaterial.
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