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SBI’s Top 5 USMNT Goals of 2010

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By FRANCO PANIZO

The year is nearing its end, and while most United States national teams are eagerly awaiting to see what the future holds, SBI is looking back at the memorable year that was for the Americans.

From a pair of drama-filled, late goals in the World Cup to a couple of finishes off of assists from players making their U.S. national team debuts, 2010 had plenty of goals worth watching again.

With 19 total goals scored during the year, there were some nice finishes, including Edson Buddle’s first against Australia, which barely missed the cut. With that said, here are SBI’s Top Five USMNT Goals of 2010:

5. Jozy Altidore vs. Poland 10/9

The finish was easy. The pass was sublime. Jozy Altidore scored his second goal of 2010 for the U.S. national team and the opener in a 2-2 draw with Poland when he made a nice run behind the defense and got on the end of a perfect pass from Jermaine Jones. Facing questions about whether or not he’d fit in with his new teammates, Jones delivered the sweet assist in his U.S. national team debut.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWMB432eWac]

4. Juan Agudelo vs. South Africa 11/17

In a game that looked to end in a scoreless draw, then-17-year-old Juan Agudelo scored a late winner for the United States in his international debut. Having come off the bench in the second half, Agudelo received a cheeky pass from fellow debutant Mikkel Diskerud before smashing home a finish from close range in the 85th minute. The goal made Agudelo the youngest American to score for the senior national team in the modern era and gave the United States its second Nelson Mandela Challenge victory (both 1-0 wins).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-kYllwfdk]

3. Landon Donovan vs. Slovenia, June 18

Having suffered as bad a first half as one could have imagined, the United States’ memorable comeback to tie Slovenia in the World Cup was sparked by Landon Donovan, who scored in emphatic fashion almost immediately after halftime. Steve Cherundolo played a ball down the right flank, and after some questionable defending, Donovan was able to find space, dribble into the penalty area and rifle home a shot into the roof of the goal. Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was essentially just another spectator at Ellis Park on Donovan’s crucial Group C goal.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvWOdloiJVw?start=110]

2. Michael Bradley vs. Slovenia, June 18

With time winding down and with World Cup hopes fading, the United States managed to pull off its comeback against Slovenia when Donovan hit a long ball towards Altidore, who then headed it down into the path of Michael Bradley. With Herculez Gomez pulling a defender away, Bradley had a clear path to the ball and was able to capitalize on his late run by getting under the ball and flicking it over Handanovic to pull the Americans even at 2-2.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvWOdloiJVw?start=141]

1. Landon Donovan vs. Algeria, June 23

If the late-game heroics against Slovenia weren’t enough, the United States sent American fans everywhere into a frenzy when Donovan broke a scoreless draw in the 91st minute of the team’s Group C finale against Algeria.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7ievQ2bHo]

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What did you think of SBI’s top five goals? Agree with the order? Is there another goal that you think should have made the cut?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  2. This. Almost as good as the guy crying during the South Korea game in 02. I am pretty sure I looked just like that, too. I was in a Boise ID bar for that game, and I threw my pancakes up in the air by accident. It was well worth the loss of a good breakfast!

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  4. Landon’s goal against Algeria is a testiment to his incredible stamina. He made that full sprint run in the 91st minute of the game to follow up the play, he beat the keeper to the ball by one step. Had he not sprinted as hard as he did, and had the ABILITY to sprint that fast after so much running, no goal for USA and no match against Ghana.

    In an interview with the USA fitness trainer (cant recall his name), the trainer stated that Donovan is not only incredibly fast, but he has a freakish ability to maintain that speed throughout a match…hence that final fun and the game winning goal.

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  9. Has anyone noticed that the NFL has copied the idea of the youtube video of Landon scoring vs Algeria. In commercials they are using Super Bowl highlights with the fan (Bar/Living Room) reactions side by side. What do you guys think of that?

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  13. Every time I watch Landon’s goal against Slovenia, it plays like this in my head: Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. BOOM! Here We Go. Cue the Music.

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  17. Great list. Thank you Ives for a reminder of some great moments from the USMNT.

    In terms of the “skill quality” of the goal, I’d put Agudelo’s on the top based on Diskerud and Agudelo’s composure in a tight space.

    But I also loved Bradley’s goal. Can you imagine being Bob and watching your son score in a World Cup like that? How do you keep it together in such a situation?

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  19. Loved watching the Donovan goal and Darke’s call of it again.

    As a sports fan, that moment is the most excited I have EVER been for ANY sport. I wish I could re-live that moment or have something come along that is as exciting as that, but I don’t know if that will ever happen again.

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  23. Davies stanky-leg in Azteca was in 2009. If the USMNT had held on to win 1-0 at Azteca his goal goes into top 5 all time perhaps.

    how things can change so quickly…

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  24. Davies was injured in late 2009, so I don’t think so.

    Michael Bradley’s goal is awesome–not a pretty, perfectly hit bending ball, but just the good, gritty soccer that the USMNT can do so well. I hate that it’s often overshadowed by what happened after.

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  28. Was Charlie Davies’ goal against Mexico at the Azteca, in 2010? If not, time is really flying in the football world.

    Loved that goal.

    *Followed by Davies doing the stanky-leg.

    *Followed by random items being thrown over the metal fencing at him.

    *Followed by my laughter.

    Ah, yes. Good ol’ healthy Charlie Davies.

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  29. I feel just like that kid crying in the stands after Donovan scored in stoppage time against Algeria. That and Bradley’s awesome goal against Slovenia remind me why I love the beautiful game.

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  40. This. Wasn’t pretty, wasn’t even a good goal but it meant so much for us as a nation and as a team. Helped set us up for the group winning heroics of the team.

    Not sure what friendly goals mean in terms of “Top 5” unless we’re going on aesthetics but then we’d have to take out Donovan’s goal..

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  41. Which goal was that? Just kidding – quadruple F you Coulibaliy, or whatever your cursed name is.

    Great selections and Landon’s winner against Algeria is still one of the best for me. I still get emotional every time I see that goal. Agudelo’s opener was a great moment for me too.

    Great work in 2010 US now onward and upward in 2011.

    USA! USA! USA!

    Reply

  42. Lot’s of memories. It got me thinking that I want the US to schedule a friendly in Ghana against Ghana. Got to get that one out of our system no matter how many tries it takes. I’d also like to see us play Iran, Turkey and Russia away. I think the psycho atmosphere of each place would do us good.

    Reply

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