Last-gasp win triggers euphoric US fan reaction

Nail-biting soccer fans watching their US side in a must-win World Cup match across the ocean in South Africa burst into euphoric rapture here Wednesday when the team scored a last-gasp winning goal.

Several hundred football faithful who gathered at Lucky Bar, just blocks from the White House, erupted in cheers, tears, and chants of "USA! USA!" after midfielder Landon Donovan slotted home a rebound in extra time to beat Algeria 1-0, putting the Americans top of Group C and sending them roaring into the second round.

"Divine justice!" bellowed Matthew Mullen moments after the final whistle. "Missing out on the second round because of two disallowed goals would have been too much to bear," the 24-year-old native Washingtonian told AFP. He was referring to a potential late game-winner by Maurice Edu that was disallowed for unexplained reasons in US's second match, against Slovenia, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

A US score in the first half of the Algeria match was called back for offsides, but replays showed the player to be even with the defender.

Twitter exploded with messages about the match after Donovan's late goal.

"USA USA USA," said the White House on @whitehouse.

"Go USA! Yeahhhhhh!!!!!!" wrote Hollywood star Demi Moore on her Twitter feed @mrskutcher.

"Landon Donovan for President?" asked @mikemadden. AFP