U.S. team buoyed by win, ready for next World Cup challenge

PRETORIA, South Africa - As goalkeeper Tim Howard sat in his hooded Nike sweatshirt reliving the final minutes of Wednesday's now-legendary 1-0 World Cup victory over Algeria, teammate Carlos Bocanegra walked past.

Bocanegra, the U.S. captain and defender, his sneakers untied, a smile on his face, turned over his left shoulder and said, "and what a throw it was . . .!"

The pair of U.S. soccer stars laughed at the joke, at Howard's supposed rehashing of the accurate 40-yard toss that led to Landon Donovan's 91st minute goal. (Howard had actually said of the play, "My part was the easy part," in typical humble Howard fashion.)

But life was a touch lighter Thursday morning at the U.S. compound in Irene, 25 minutes outside of Johannesburg, and you can't blame the team for taking at least one deep, relaxed breath before turning upfield toward the next opponent, Ghana. The Americans play Ghana on Saturday in Rustenburg in the World Cup's round of 16.

"It dawned on me, quite honestly, roughly around the 70th minute, 'Damn, at this point, right now, we're going home,' " Howard said of the realization that a tie on Wednesday would eliminate his team. "I didn't want to get on that long flight. I wanted more meetings and more training sessions and more time with the team."

Howard added: "You didn't want it to stop, so you're just holding onto it."

On Thursday, the United States practiced, one of only two training sessions before playing speedy, athletic Ghana.

"It's the first hurdle," Howard said of advancing out of group play. "Knowing the match we have in front of us, it's pressure, but it's easier. We can draw it, take it into extra time, go to penalties - whereas, this game we knew only one result would get us through."

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the United States lost a must-win match against Ghana, which ended the U.S. dream at the group stage. This year, Ghana is also the lone African team remaining, which will likely turn the crowd against the United States.

"I was talking about that with Maurice this morning," said U.S. forward Jozy Altidore, referring to teammate Maurice Edu. "We anticipate it's going to be heavily favored for them, them being the last team left. It might be in their favor, but we have a lot of people who came out to see us."

At a quick glance, Saturday's match appears a battle of determination (the United States) against speed and quickness (Ghana). U.S. coach Bob Bradley said he had a "comfort level" with his team, because he knew whatever results occur going forward, they would be formed from hard work and belief in one another.

"When you have a group of guys over time, and you see them believing in each other and what we're all about, willing to put that part on the line every game and go for it until the end, in any sport you coach, that's one of the things you want to achieve," Bradley said.

Donovan - who likely had the most intense 36 hours of his athletic life - appeared focused and introspective, as he has seemed to be since the first day of camp on May 17.

Does he worry that the hysteria over his dramatic goal, and the team's dramatic victory, could be a distraction?

"I would have worried about that for myself in the past," Donovan said. "I live in the moment now, and that means forgetting about the bad moments, but also forgetting about the good moments so that you can continue to be in the moment. I will enjoy that goal more than I've enjoyed most goals, but I've already wrapped my head around Saturday and the realities of what that is and the opportunity it is."