Donovan a real 'American Idol'

Landon Donovan scored a goal in stoppage time to give the United States a dramatic 1-0 victory over Algeria, and hand the Americans a place in the Round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup.

The victory gave the Americans the top spot in Group C, finishing with five points tied with England, but the US edged them on goals scored. Slovenia and Algeria were eliminated.

Donovan, who matched a US record with his 11th World Cup appearance, set up the decisive move with a long pass to Jozy Altidore, who raced into the penalty area only for his shot to be blocked by Algerian goalkeeper Rasis Bolhi.

Donovan, following up, blasted home the rebound for his fourth World Cup goal, matching another US mark with the defining moment of a career that reached its lowest point four years ago with a first-round exit in 2006.

"I've been on a long journey these last four years and today I am so stoked and proud," said Donovan, whose tribulations included a split last year with actress Bianca Kajlich.

"Algeria were pushing and we had to take the fight to them. Time felt like it stopped when I scored but I just couldn't miss it from there. We aren't done yet. We had a bad decision against Slovenia (when a late goal was ruled out), but we are Americans. We get on with it. We don't complain."

The Americans were minutes from crashing out as a draw with the Desert Foxes would not have been enough to move ahead of Slovenia.

At the final whistle, the Americans began jumping for joy, Donovan kicking the ball into the stands.

"When you try to do things the right way, it's nice to get rewarded," said a tearful Donovan, who was already thinking ahead to matching or bettering his success in a 2002 US quarterfinal run.

"The goal for us now is to recover physically and emotionally and be ready for whoever comes."

Already affected by a disallowed goal late in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia, the Americans were stung by another questionable decision in the 20th minute against Algeria, one that grew more haunting as the match went on.

Herculez Gomez, starting in place of suspended US forward Robbie Findley, recovered his own rebound on a blocked shot and slid the ball across the goal to Clint Dempsey, who put the ball in the back of the net.

But the offside flag was up, although television replays appeared to show Dempsey onside.

In the US-Slovenia match, Mali referee Koman Coulibaly disallowed an attempt from Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu in the dying seconds that would have given the Americans a victory.

"You can't always control a call or a bounce but you can control how committed you are about it and that has been the trademark of this group," US coach Bob Bradley said.

The Algerians - who failed to score once in their three matches - ended the match on an even sourer note as captain Anther Yahia was sent-off for a second bookable offense by Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere.

"I don't think we should hang our heads in shame," Algerian coach Rabah Saadane said. "This is the first time in 24 years we have been in a World Cup. You shouldn't expect miracles."