Landon Donovan took his place in the pantheon of American sports heroes Wednesday with a stunning goal in the 91st minute that gave the United States a 1-0 win over Algeria and cemented their place in the second round of the World Cup.

The goal was the most brilliant of moments for Team USA. Needing a win to advance past the group stage, they had been knocking on the door all game long against Algeria but had been turned away at every opportunity (inlcuding a goal in the 21st minute from Clint Dempsey that was taken away on a mistaken offsides call).

Fortune seemed to be against the Americans just when they needed it the most, and time was running out. 

Weary from 90 minutes of challenge and frustration, the U.S. mounted one last furious attack. Donovan received an outlet throw from goalkeeper Tim Howard on the right sideline and immediately broke toward goal.

As the Algerian defenders converged on him, Donovan passed off to Jozy Altidore on the right wing. Altidore took a quick touch and fired a pitch perfect cross to Dempsey, who was waiting in the mouth of the goal. Dempsey put a good touch on the ball, but Algerian goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi charged and deflected the shot back into the box, creating the allusion, if just for a split second, that the U.S. had come up short again.

Just as the play appeared broken, Donovan burst into the frame, red cape billowing in the wind, and calmly punched the ball into the net. Goal scored, day saved, chaos resolved, the U.S. broke into wild celebration at the corner flag, mimicking in part the wild-eyed jubiliation of their fans at home, screaming at the television and hugging each other as if humanity itself had just been saved.

It was a terrific moment, arguably the greatest in U.S. soccer history to date. And at the middle of it were Donovan, Dempsey and Altidore: the crux of the American offense.

Time and again the trio had assaulted the Algerian goal, passing incisively through the opposing penalty box and peppering M'Bolhi with shots to no avail. The list of missed chances reads like a great American tragedy. There was Dempsey's disallowed volley in the 21st minute, Altidore's point blank shot in the 37th minute that sailed high and Dempsey's heartbreaking chip that glanced ever so provocatively off the right post in the 57th minute -- all set up beautifully, all near misses.

The U.S. was clearly the dominant team on the field, but without a moment of validation those efforts would have amounted to just another valiant try, a series of what ifs adding up to an almost there.

But Donovan's breakthrough in the 91st erased all of that. Heroically, he rescued the U.S. from a seemingly unavoidable tie and catapulted them from the brink of elimination to the top of Group C -- a stunning reversal that puts Team USA in a favorable position to advance.  

Four years after leading the U.S. to its most disappointing World Cup finish of all-time, Donovan rose above all the obstacles (the disallowed goals, the disappointing starts, the missed opportunities, the air tight Algerian defense) and delivered a goal for the ages, a game-winner on behalf of his teammates, his coach and, most importantly, his country.

His effort is one that will not soon be forgotten.