World Cup 2014 Team USA News: Ranking the Best Moments in Team USA's Modern World Cup History
Team USA and its fans across the nation are riding high after John Brooks' dramatic goal Monday helped the United States defeat archrival Ghana 2-1.
Brooks, a little-known reserve on Team USA's roster, vaulted out of obscurity with his stunning goal, which he knocked in with his head as he leapt over a Ghana defender at the 86-minute mark to tip in a stray corner kick from Team USA's Graham Zusi. The goal, and the win, have brought the United States squad to second place in the talent-laden and fiercely competitive Group G, the aptly titled "Group of Death," as Team USA prepares for another tough showdown Sunday against ailing but ultratalented superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal squad.
However, more important than even the placing it gives, Brooks' 11th-hour goal has given Team USA much-needed momentum as it prepares to face one of the toughest teams in the tournament. As surprising as it was inspiring, as impactful as it was heroic, Brooks' goal was a memorable moment in Team USA men's soccer history. But of course, it isn't the only one. For a team that hasn't won a World Cup, there have been plenty of incredible moments in the modern era of soccer that have brought Team USA fans to their feet through the years in World Cup action.
Latin Post.com takes a look at some of the biggest goals and moments for Team USA in the modern era of World Cup action:
The Landon Donovan Goal Against Algeria, 2010
It was the goal that rocked a nation. The U.S., trying to avoid being ousted in the first round of the 2010 edition of the World Cup -- which would have marked their second consecutive first-round elimination -- fought to draws against Slovenia and England. And about 90 minutes into the match with a tough Algeria squad, a third draw seemed inevitable, until Landon Donovan, aka Captain America, turned a blocked Clint Dempsey shot into a rebound "GOOOOOAL!" that catapulted Team USA into the next round. The team was eliminated by Ghana once again in the following round, but the memory of a jubilant Team USA dogpiling an ecstatic Donovan afterward would live on, even after Donovan was left off Team USA's Brazil-bound squad.
USA Breaks World Cup Qualifying Drought, 1990
Team USA had failed to qualify for the last nine World Cups. That's four decades without a World Cup berth. Heading into its 1989 CONCACAF game against Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. faced a do-or-die situation, needing to win to make it to the World Cup, which would be in Italy the following year. U.S. defender Paul Caligiuri got the team there with a stunning goal widely known as the "Shot Heard Round the World," scoring the only goal of the game en route to a 1-0 Team USA victory that stamped the team's ticket to Italy for its first World Cup since 1950. Team USA hasn't missed a World Cup since.
Mexico KO'ed by Team USA in Knockout Stage Stunner, 2002
There's a first time for everything, and that proved true in the 2002 World Cup for Team USA. Before that, the U.S. had never advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup finals. However, two United States goals, one from Landon Donovan and one from Brian McBride, changed that, leading Team USA to a 2-0 stunner upset victory over Mexico in the Round of 16.
Playing Host, Team USA Stuns Columbia in Group Stage
Team USA had a lot to prove in 1994, when it hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Prior to that, the United States hadn't won a World Cup game since 1950 and had only just started to become relevant in the World Cup again after years of failing to even qualify for the world's biggest soccer tournament. It didn't look like it would be an easy game against a heavily favored Colombia team. However, Team USA dropped thousands of jaws at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on June 22 when it pulled off an improbable 2-1 win over Colombia. One of those goals came accidentally thanks to the late Andres Escobar, a Columbian defender who errantly tipped the ball into his own team's net while trying to cut off a pass from USA midfielder John Harkes. Not 10 days after, Escobar was shot and killed when he returned to Columbia, with rumors flying that his death was connected to his World Cup own-goal incident. Meanwhile, Team USA's victory helped it advance out of its World Cup group for the first time in 64 years.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!