Late goal sends Americans into round of 16

Yesterday's 1-0 victory by the United States, dramatically conjured by a goal in the dying moments against Algeria, put the Americans into the knockout phase for the third time during their streak of six World Cup appearances.

In the U.S.-based 1994 World Cup, the Yanks were 1-1-1 in the first round before being eliminated by eventual champion Brazil, 1-0.

In 2002, when Japan and Korea co-hosted the event, the Americans also were 1-1-1, then stunned Mexico, 2-0, in the round of 16 before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Germany, 1-0.

At the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, in which only 13 nations participated, the United States (2-0) won its three-team first-round group but was crushed by Argentina, 6-1, in the semifinals. (That U.S. team was declared the Cup's third-place finisher when Yugoslavia declined to play a third-/fourth-place match.)

In 1934, when there was no pool play in the tournament, the Americans lost their only game, 7-1, to Italy and were eliminated. All other U.S. appearances in the World Cup - in 1950, 1990, 1998 and 2006 - ended after the first round.