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It was the 90th minute. The ball was at Jozy Altidore’s feet. Soon, it bounced off Altidore’s foot, grazed the grass, and found Clint Dempsey making a great run from the midfield. Dempsey struck it at the keeper’s chest, the ball was now at the foot of Landon Donovan, and found back of the net only seconds later.

This is how the U.S. pulled off the dramatic 1-0 victory over Algeria to advance into the Round of 16. Not only did they advance, but they won the group for the first time since the original World Cup in 1930. This may be a story book ending, but it wasn’t scripted. The U.S. could dedicate their success to Coach Bob Bradley.

Bradley, the father of midfielder Michael, had never played with the same lineup this World Cup.

In the first game versus England, Bradley started Ricardo Clark in the midfield. Clark, a great defender, helped the U.S. allow only one goal against the powerful English squad. During the same game, starting forwards Jozy Altidore and Robbie Findley were subbed out for midfielder Stuart Holden and striker Edson Buddle. This helped the U.S. hang on to the 1-1 tie and gain a point in their opening match.

Next was Slovenia. Bradley decided to put the young Jose Francisco Torres in for Ricardo Clark; however, this was probably the only bad decision Bradley made so far. Torres is a master at free-kicks, but his lane was a gateway for lots of opportunities and Bradley decided to make some changes at the half. In a 2-0 deficit, Findley and Torres were subbed out for strong offensive midfielders Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber. The move payed off.

Only three minutes into the half, Donovan scored to cut the lead to one. It was a complete new ball game. After a scoreless 30 minutes, Bradley put in striker Hercules Gomez in for defender Oguchi Onyewu. Bradley switched to a 3-4-3 formation, and it only took two minutes for the U.S. to tie the game. In an early Father’s Day gift, son Michael Bradley scored and the U.S. managed to salvage another point. Although there was a bad call preventing the Americans from getting the full three points, the 2-2 tie was what the U.S. was hoping for.

In the final game of group play, the U.S. had to beat Algeria to advance. Robbie Findley couldn’t play due to his two yellow cards, and Hercules Gomez replaced him. Maurice Edu also started replacing Torres in the midfield and Jonathon Bornstein replaced Oguchi Onyewu at back.

The first half went by without a single goal, and Bradley brought in Feilhaber for Gomez. Bradley put Dempsey up top and another scoreless 19 minutes went by. Noticing no success, Edson Buddle came in for Maurice Edu to replace Dempsey at the forward position. It was now the 80th minute, and it seemed as if the U.S. would be sent home again after group play. Midfielder DeMarcus Beasley came in for Bornstein and the U.S. went back to the 3-4-3. The rest of the game, well, was history.

As you see, Bob Bradley has been key to the success of Team USA. Bradley has been criticized at times, but has been the key to winning group C.

I tell you, if there was one board game I would not want to play Bob Bradley at, it would be chess, and watch out Ghana, that’s what you’re in for. A chess-match for the ages.

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