With a stunning goal in the first minute of injury time, Landon Donovan keeps the American World Cup dream alive and puts the United States into first place within their group.

Facing three minutes from elimination, Donovan brought the ball upfield on a counterattack and Jozy Altidore’s shot on the breakaway was tipped by Clint Dempsey into goalkeeper Rais Bolihi. The rebound came back to Donovan, who kicked it in from about 8 yards for one of the biggest goals in U.S. soccer history.

“Clint made a good run in the middle, the ball fell to me … time kind of stopped,” Donovan said. “You can’t miss from there.”

With this victory, the United States finishes the round with putting the Americans into first place with 1-0-2 within Group C, earning them five points. England also finished 1-0-2, but the United States took first as they had four goals versus England’s two. Slovenia (1-1-1) was third with four points, and Algeria (0-2-1) came in last with one point.

The win is the first World Cup victory for the United States in eight years, and the first time the United States has won a group since 1930. With his fourth World Cup goal, Donovan has tied Bert Patenaude (1930) as the American scoring leader. Moving forward into the second round will pit them against the runner-up of Group D on Saturday.

“I’ve been through a lot in the last four years,” Donovan said half an hour after the end, crying and his voice cracked. “I’m so glad it culminated this way. When you try to do things the right way, it’s good to get rewarded.”