Negotiations on the most sweeping changes to U.S. financial laws since the Great Depression took a break as the top congressional Democrats convening on Capitol Hill paused to watch the end of the USA-Algeria game.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada (whose son played for Bruce Arena at Virginia) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California were among the meeting attendees hammering out the details of the financial overhaul legislation who saw Landon Donovan net the winner. Writes Michael Crittenden, "Victory for the U.S in hand, negotiators quickly turned back to a less vuvuzela-worthy topic: derivatives."

In the White House, USA Today reported that, after Donovan's goal, a voice on the press room PA began chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as journalists celebrated. The White House twitter feed also sent out a USA chant.