Well, I doubt that's how the USA drew it up on paper, but with the shocking upset by Ghana over the Czech Republic (which I wasn't able to watch, but I presume the Czechs must have fallen asleep for), the draw is essentially as good as the win. Particularly with the Czechs coming off such a disappointing loss with Italy earning a hard-earned tie against a fiesty American squad, I've got to see Italy as the favorites against Czech, and the USA obviously must put Ghana away.

Theoretically the US could win even with a draw between Czech and Italy, but, with Czech at +1 and the USA still at -3, and with the US behind in the 3rd head-to-head tiebreaker, they would have to beat Ghana by five in order to overcome the goal differential. gogo Italy!!!

As for the game itself, the US seemed to dominate in the first half and, to their credit, didn't deflate after giving up the goal on what was really a poor defense of a well-executed set piece. Getting an extremely lucky equalizer on an own goal a few minutes later, they seemed in control of the game, particularly when Italy scored a (well-deserved) red card on a flagrant elbow to Brian McBride's face, which left it bloody, though he returned. Then, in what seemed like a harsh compensation, Pablo Mastroeni was ejected for a late tackle that would have likely been a justifiable yellow card, but surely not red. The card against Pope was probably more justified, although his first yellow card was definitely weak.

Still, the US seemed on the attack for the first part of the second half, even down ten men to nine, and generated chances, including DeMarcus Beasley's apparent goal that was nullified on an offsides call.

The US seemed to run out of gas towards the end of the game, allowing Keller to shine as the hero as he made several highlight reel saves to hold off the US against a last second flurry from the Italians. The 1-1 result is a positive one, even moreso considering the way the Americans dominated the first half, and with Ghana's huge win over Czech, gogo USA and gogo Italy!