United States' Landon Donovan (L) celebrates after scoring against Algeria during a 2010 World Cup Group C soccer match at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 23, 2010. [Agencies]

United States' Landon Donovan (L) celebrates after scoring against Algeria during a 2010 World Cup Group C soccer match at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 23, 2010. [Agencies]

JOHANNESBURG - England shook off a traumatic start to the World Cup on Wednesday to beat tiny Slovenia and squeeze into the second round while the United States booked their place with a last-gasp goal against Algeria.

With Group C reaching a dramatic finale in simultaneous games, Landon Donovan struck in the second minute of injury time to spark wild joy in Pretoria among American fans and players alike. The 1-0 win gave them first place in the group.

"I'm just shocked and so proud of our guys, unbelievable," ecstatic midfielder Donovan said. "We're alive, baby!"

The result put Algeria out -- another disappointment for Africans whose teams are flopping at the continent's first World Cup. Donovan's late goal was also shattering for Slovenia, the tournament's smallest nation with a population of just over two million people, who would otherwise have gone through.

With fellow European power France's ignominous first-round exit an example they did not want to follow, England looked brighter against Slovenia than in the two draws from their opening matches that touched off a mini-crisis in the camp.