Clint Dempsey appeared to have put the United States ahead in the 20th minute, but a close offside call that went against the United States’ wiped Dempsey’s left-footed finished off the scoresheet, keeping the match scoreless.
Michael Bradley broke into attack at the edge of the box only to be collapsed upon by three Algerian defenders. The ball eventually found an open Herculez Gomez on the right wing, who had a point blank shot saved by Rais M’Bolhu. The rebound to Gomez found its way to Dempsey at the far post, who touched the ball into the open net.
Replays showed that Dempsey, three yards from goal, was probably even with Algerian defender Mahjid Bougherra.