Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas’ Herculez Gomez starts for U.S. in dramatic soccer win against Algeria

Herculez Gomez

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

United States’ Herculez Gomez, right, United States’ Clint Dempsey and United States’ Landon Donovan, left, listen to referee Frank De Bleeckere, from Belgium, second from left, during the World Cup group C soccer match between the United States and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

World Cup: U.S. Scores to Advance!

The mood at Crown & Anchor British Pub Wednesday morning was somber for U.S. fans with only three minutes until certain elimination from the World Cup. But in the first minute of injury overtime, Landon Donovan scored a history-making goal that advances the U.S. to the second round with a 1-0 win over Algeria. The winning goal gave the U.S. first place in Group C, having scored one more goal in total than England. This is the first time the U.S. has won a group since 1930. Las Vegas Sun reporter Katharine Euphrat caught the moment of rowdy celebration very early Wednesday morning at Crown & Anchor.

Herculez Gomez

United States' Herculez Gomez, center foreground, reacts after a missed scoring opportunity during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 26, 2010 Launch slideshow »

Landon Donovan scored off a rebound in the first minute of stoppage time Wednesday, advancing the United States to the second round at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Algeria.

With the U.S. perhaps three minutes from elimination, Algerian goalkeeper Rais Bolihi stopped Jozy Altidore's shot on a breakaway, but Donovan hustled in and kicked in the rebound to win Group C.

After his U.S. record 44th international goal, Donovan joyously ran to the corner flag and his teammates ran down the touchline to mob him. Donovan was in tears when the game ended and the United States had moved into the second round.

In the middle of the celebration was Las Vegas' Herculez Gomez, a forward for the United States who started and played the first half. Gomez, 28, was a surprise addition to the team in late May, going from a relative unknown to playing on soccer's biggest stage.

With just its fifth shutout in World Cup play, the United States (1-0-2) won a World Cup group for the first time since 1930 and will face the Group D runner-up this weekend.

England (1-0-2), which beat Slovenia moments earlier, also had five points but finished second because the U.S. scored four goals to two for the English. Slovenia (1-1-1) was third with four points, failing to advance because of Donovan's heroics, and Algeria (0-2-1) was last with one.

Until Donovan's goal, it appeared the officiating again would be the focus.

Clint Dempsey put the ball in the net in the 21st minute off the rebound of a Gomez shot. But the goal was called off for offsides. It was the second such non-goal for the United States in as many games, as Maurice Edu's late goal that would have given the Americans a victory against Slovenia last week was disallowed. Replays appeared to show Dempsey was onside.

Dempsey had another great chance in the 57th minute when Michael Bradley stole the ball and sent Altidore streaking down the right side. Altidore crossed, but Dempsey's shot hit the goalpost. He shot wide on the rebound.

Gomez, a graduate of Las Vegas High, also played the final 12 minutes of the Americans' 2-2 tie against Slovenia last Friday.

His World Cup journey started this spring when he became the first American-born player to lead Mexico's Premier Division in scoring, tallying 10 goals this year for Puebla F.C.

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