Tension hung over the Civic Center Plaza World Cup watchers [1] this morning like Ocean Beach fog.
The US soccer team faced elimination throughout a nerve-wracking battle with Algeria. Conspiracy theories were abound after the referees called back an early US goal in the first half, echoing a similar controversial call from last Friday's tie game against Slovenia. Fans went through a wide range of emotions until the final minutes when US star Landon Donovan followed up on a loose ball [2] in front of the Algerian goal. Pandemonium broke out among the few hundred gathered in the plaza as 90 tense minutes were finally absolved. Now, on to round 16!
(h/t The Awl [3])
Links:
[1] http://www.worldcupsf.com
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/sports/soccer/24usgame.html
[3] http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/america-scores-on-algeria-for-the-win-the-original-and-the-remix