I don’t know if he’s even a father, but a thrilling match (this morning US time) in Cape Town, with the US pulling ahead 1-0 after 91 minutes of play.
I was surprised Algeria was the underdog, after so many years of thinking that soccer is the only sport in the world (well, maybe Rugby), where the US doesn’t dominate year after year. Algeria was expected to lose 2-0, but had a very strong offense in the first half, and a very lucky defense in the second. In fact, the US missed so many chances that their coach, Bob Bradley, said after the game that he worried that it might be just one of those days where you try and try, but don’t win.
But Landon Donovan, after sitting out 20 minutes of the game, game in in the final minute, raced down the field controlling the ball, passed to Jozy Altidore, and scored when the ball bounced off the Algerian goalkeeper.
This was a game that was slated to end like balloon sputtering out of air, but instead made a giant pop. The US wins their group for the first time in World Cup history and moves on to the final 16.
And by the way, my son rooted for the USA, but my daughter the 10 year old contrarian, had her money on Algeria.