Biggest Wins in U.S. Soccer History

Landon Donovan broke a 0-0 tie with a goal in the 91st minute to give the U.S. a victory over Algeria that sent it into the round of 16 as the winners of Group C. It was the first time since 1930 that the U.S. topped its group.

Spain entered the tournament riding a 35-game unbeaten streak. But the U.S. didn't back down from the world's top-ranked team, using a gritty defensive effort and a pair of opportunistic goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey to score a 2-0 win, one of the greatest victories in the history of the U.S. men's national soccer team. Here are some of the others.

Mexico was on its way to breaking its eight-game winless jinx on U.S. soil since 2000, playing in front of mostly pro-Mexico fans at Chicago's Solider Field. But Landon Donovan's 62nd-minute penalty kick knotted up the game, and then a golazo from Benny Feilhaber broke Mexico's back in the 73rd minute, giving the U.S. a 2-1 win and a fourth Gold Cup title.

The U.S. booked a place at Germany '06 with a satisfying 2-0 victory in Columbus, Ohio, over its biggest rival. Goals from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley helped the Americans avenge a previous defeat in Mexico City -- the lone blemish of their qualifying campaign.

Tipped by many as a pre-tournament favorite, Portugal was shell-shocked in its World Cup opener as the U.S. scored three goals in the first 36 minutes: from John O'Brien (4'), an own-goal from Jorge Costa (30') and a final U.S. tally from Brian McBride (36'). The U.S. weathered a rally and held on for an unexpected 3-2 triumph at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.

When the U.S. backed into the knockout stage at South Korea/Japan '02, it secured a date with its archrivals. The Americans got goals from Brian McBride (20) and Landon Donovan -- and survived a series of hostile fouls down the stretch -- to secure the 2-0 result and advance into the quarters.

Brazil was an invited guest to the North and Central American championship, and was an enormous favorite over the hosts in the semifinals. But the Seleção didn't bargain on Kasey Keller (18) having the game of his life. The emerging star keeper made 10 superb saves on a Romário-led attack as the U.S. held on for a 1-0 victory, its first in nine games over the four-time World Cup champs.

For the second time, the U.S. was a special invite to South America's championship, and maybe the organizers ended up regretting it. Argentina had already qualified for the knockout rounds, but still fielded a powerful starting lineup that included stars Gabriel Batitusta (pictured, on ground) and Roberto Ayala. Still, Ernie Stewart (8) and the Americans stunned the two-time World Cup champions 3-0 behind goals from Frank Klopas, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda. It was the U.S.' first-ever victory over Argentina.

Colombia entered USA '94 as a trendy sleeper pick to bring home the title. But the host country tamed the tourney's dark horse with an improbable 2-1 victory at the Rose Bowl. The match is perhaps best remembered for the 34th-minute own goal by Andrés Escobar, who was shot to death in Colombia just 10 days after the match.

Paul Caligiuri's ''Shot Head 'Round the World'' still ranks as the most important goal ever scored by an American in any competition. To keep its slim odds of reaching its first World Cup in 40 years alive, the U.S. needed a win in its final qualifier in front of 40,000 fans in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Caligiuri delivered, looping a historic 35-yarder into the net for a 1-0 win and a spot at Italy 1990.

''The Miracle on Grass'' saw a heavy underdog U.S. team -- which had lost its last seven international matches by a combined 45-2 -- stun an unprepared English team in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Behind Haitian-born Joey Gaetjens' first-half strike, the Americans logged a 1-0 win, one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game at the time. A few British dailies presumed the score line was a typo, and some ran headlines that read 10-0 or 11-1 in favor of England.