Donovan scores against Algeria. It’s been 15 years since— where were you?

Discussion in 'USA Men' started by Anthony, Jun 23, 2025.

  1. Anthony

    Anthony Member+

    Chelsea
    United States
    Aug 20, 1999
    Chicago
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #1 Anthony, Jun 23, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2025
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    That’s right. Want to feel old? It is 15 years since Donovan’s last second goal to beat Algeria.

    Where were you?

    I was at a pub in Southwark, London. I blacked out as Donovan ran up on the ball. Next thing I remember was jumping up and down hugging some guy with a beard.

    I went back to my office after because of reasons. As I walked in some of my English officemates who were giving me a hard time that morning saw me and figured I would give them a hard time.

    I walked up and said “There was my wedding day, there were the days my children were born, and there is today”.
     
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  2. Grumpy in LA

    Grumpy in LA Bringing It Since 1807™

    Sep 10, 2007
    Chicago
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In a bar in Los Feliz (Los Angeles).

    Screaming like a maniac.
     
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  3. An Unpaved Road

    An Unpaved Road Member+

    Mar 22, 2006
    Club:
    --other--
    Feels more recent to me than the 2014 World Cup lol. Time is weird.
     
  4. soccer_23

    soccer_23 Member

    Feb 6, 2014
    Especially for those too young to remember the WC 1990 qualifier win against T&T, this is truly the singular “where were you when” moment for USMNT fans.

    Those who didn’t live through it will never understand the buildup and frustration of the group stage and that game in particular. Self-inflicted early deficits, poor lineup selections, blown calls by the refs, goals called back on offsides, and plenty of crossbars, posts, and missed opportunities. Staring down four frustrating years of wondering ‘what if.’

    But all of that erased in a single glorious moment.

    To answer the question, I was watching at home, too nervous to be around anyone else. When that ball hit the net, my soul left my body and I watched myself destroy my own apartment.
     
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  5. Grumpy in LA

    Grumpy in LA Bringing It Since 1807™

    Sep 10, 2007
    Chicago
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It’s my favorite USMNT goal. Heck, Jay Demerit’s late-arriving somersault afterward means more to me than most USMNT goals.
     
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  6. RobtheAggie

    RobtheAggie Member+

    Sep 10, 2001
    Middle Georgia
    Club:
    Rochester Rhinos
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Teaching a summer class. We watched the 2nd half. The entire class of people, most who did not like soccer went crazy!
     
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  7. NietzscheIsDead

    NietzscheIsDead Member+

    NO WAR
    United States
    May 31, 2019
    NO WAR
    The maniacal assistant coach teleporting about the pile and materializing into a wide-eyed, full-strength double-fist clutching, ready-stance, and screaming into the ground makes me laugh every time.

    Its like he went super Saiyan and started teleport-attacking evil spirits.
     
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  8. NietzscheIsDead

    NietzscheIsDead Member+

    NO WAR
    United States
    May 31, 2019
    NO WAR


    Here’s the last 6 minutes if you want to relive the drama, click the link.
     
  9. twoolley

    twoolley Member+

    Jan 3, 2008
    In a bar in Granada, Spain. The only one watching after making them turn it on. Screaming at everyone there.
     
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  10. vreleven

    vreleven Member

    Jul 20, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States


    Enjoy it at least once a month

    in English ans Español with Andres Cantor

    Watching at home since i get too excited
     
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  11. deuteronomy

    deuteronomy Member+

    Siem Reap Crown City FC
    United States
    Aug 12, 2008
    on the touch
    Club:
    Siem Reap Angkor FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here’s the earlier one in the comeback to tie Slovenia. A more difficult shot, Landon said after the game, “the goalkeeper looked afraid, so I just decided to shoot it right at him.”

     
  12. Dyvel

    Dyvel Member+

    Jul 24, 1999
    The dog end of a day gone by
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    A glorious moment.

    I'd forgotten how much I hated those vuvuzelas.
     
  13. an1310

    an1310 Member+

    Jun 2, 2003
    Atlanta, GA
    I cried tears of joy.
     
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  14. Seanin

    Seanin Member

    Feb 14, 2003
    I don’t think people fully appreciate how good the US was at counterattacking under Bradley. Donovan’s goal against Brazil in the Confederations Cup is a great example, and his goal against Slovenia was another special counterattacking goal. But the Algeria one was by far the most cathartic.

    I was sneaky watching on my desktop at work with earbuds in. When Landon scored I leaped out of my seat, pulling out the cable and, thus, blowing my cover.
     
  15. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My favorite American goal.

    So far.
     
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  16. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For me, that’s the UNC-Dook final four game.
     
  17. Bande

    Bande New Member

    Sep 27, 2022
    Watching at home by myself.

    when Donovan scored I ran around the coffee table for ten minutes arms raised.
     
  18. Seanin

    Seanin Member

    Feb 14, 2003
    Just watched the goal again. If Donovan doesn’t bury the rebound, what happens to Dempsey’s reputation given his poor finishing after being perfectly set up (not to mention his earlier left-footed flub with the goal gaping)?
     
  19. saxman

    saxman Member

    Nov 12, 2005
    Frederick,Maryland
    I was in Bushwaller's pub in Frederick, MD. We were packed tight as sardines in there. I probably lost a little hearing after that ball hit the net.

    Landon totally deserved that goal. When Howard collected the ball he took off looking for that outlet. Timmy knew to look for him because of their time together at Everton. Landon's first touch pushed the ball way in front of him. But he had the space to do it. That gave him the opportunity to run at pace without having to take more touches. Then it was one very short touch and a perfectly waited ball from the outside of his foot. Hard enough that Jozy had to sprint, enabling him to run by the defender, but not so hard that he couldn't run it down. And Landon completed his run. If he hadn't kept going the keeper would definitely have collected the rebound from Dempsey's shot.
     
  20. dwsmith1972

    dwsmith1972 BigSoccer Supporter

    May 11, 2007
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pretty drunk at the now defunct AJ Kelly's pub in the financial district of the Manhattan, playing hooky from work as a 7th year associate at a Wall Street law firm. Been sober for 13 of the past 15 years but look back with fondness at those times. Same place I snuck out of work the year before to watch US v Spain in the Confederations cup and probably hugged the same wildly unattractive yet sweet bartender. She was widely referred to as the Crypt Keeper.
     
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  21. dwsmith1972

    dwsmith1972 BigSoccer Supporter

    May 11, 2007
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For me it remains Donovan's goal against Slovenia. The angle, the power, the quality of the goal keeper, the metaphorical death of the myth of "Landycakes", the galvanization of the eventual comeback (solely thwarted by among the worst referee performances I have ever seen).



     
  22. umop_apisdn

    umop_apisdn Member

    Jun 22, 2010
    Midwest
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It wasn't a poor finish from Dempsey. There was only so much he could do with the limited time and space he had, and he put it on goal and forced a save. I would hope it wouldn't have affected his reputation at all but I of course can't speak for the post-loss mob we are fortunate enough not to have seen.

    --

    I remember being back at home during summer break after my first year of college, watching with my brother during the extra long lunch break he took from his summer job, being extremely aggravated about us being bounced from the tournament in such a frustrating way, before that suddenly changed and we were running around the living room and one of us, I don't even remember which, tackled the other onto the couch in celebration.
     
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  23. um_chili

    um_chili Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    Losanjealous
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And this is the guy people call “Landycakes” because he’s supposed to be soft.
     
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  24. um_chili

    um_chili Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    Losanjealous
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    To the OP’s question, I was at an Anglophone expat bar in Zurich, Switzerland of all places. The majority of the space was devoted to the England game and their fans. We US folks were relegated to a small room with one TV off to the side. I used to drink then and I’d drunk plenty by the end of the game. Hence my memories are scanty. When LD scored, I remember shouting “Oh Jesus” over and over, which is weird bc I’m not religious. Then I hugged some guy so hard it crushed the sunglasses that were in my shirt pocket. Then I wandered in a delirious daze around the block calling people back home, not caring how much money I was charging in international cellular fees. There wasn’t much of a WC vibe in Zurich to be honest, even when the Swiss were playing. So it seemed a little weird and out of place for there to be a solo US fan wandering the streets celebrating. But people got it, a few motorists honked and said, “Oo Ess Ah” and whatnot.

    Weird that it’s been fifteen years. Ask me what I did last Tuesday and I’d have to look at my work calendar and maybe I could conjure memories, but those fifteen-year-old images and memoreis are indelibly etched on my brain, as I imagine they will be for the rest of my days.
     
  25. owian

    owian Member+

    Liverpool FC, San Diego FC
    May 17, 2002
    San Diego
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was in the upper deck of Loftus Versfield in Pretoria, South Africa. It had been a F*** nightmare trying to get to Pretoria from where I was staying near Johannesburg. We had trusted FIFA's recommendations and had tried to take the light rail, which turned out to not be finished,. Ended up on a train, to a bus, to another train to, another bus to finally get to the stadiium. The first half was frustrating and I remember standing in the concourse at halftime looking out over Pretoria just numb. The sun was setting and I couldn't help but think that was a metaphor for the US chances. By the time the clock hit 90 I was already trying to come to terms and keep the pain down. But then the Howard ball, and the Dempsey chance. Because the rebound looked dangerous I was still on my feet hoping when I saw a white Jersey flash from right to left, the net bulged and the whole section goes crazy. I ended up light headed from screaming and didn't know it was Donovan who scored it until hours later. Still my favorite moment supporting US soccer.
     
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