I know I speak for all of America's soccer moms when I say: It's about time.
The United States beat Algeria, 1-0, in the final minutes of a soccer thriller Wednesday and, instead of another three-games-and-out, the U.S. advances to the final 16 of the World Cup competition in South Africa.
Television carried the beer-swilling, cheering men in pubs all over the United States, but soccer moms simply uttered a "harumph" and muttered, "It certainly took long enough."
In the past five World Cups, the United States has made it to the second round only twice. (This year makes three.) And for the past two decades, American soccer moms have been wondering why our boys don't rip through this competition like, well, like a high school soccer team through pizza.
It's not like we haven't done our part.
We over-involved soccer mothers, who have been cutting orange slices, writing checks and seething on the sidelines when our child isn't chosen to start for all these years, can't believe our efforts do not routinely produce world championships.
The World Cup happens every four years, and after two years of preliminary competition, 32 teams went to South Africa this month to determine a winner. More than 26 billion people are expected to watch on TV and from the stands.
Soccer doesn't have a European-style TV following in the United States because of the slow pace and low-scoring nature of the game.
There are plenty of ethnic cheering sections out of respect for the old country — Anglo-English, Anglo-Irish and Anglo-Italian. But it is hard for Americans to get their heads around the idea that a team can advance on a pair of ties, and a third one sends you home.
If Landon Donovan hadn't scored his Hollywood-style goal, the United States would have gotten booted out of this tournament without ever losing a game.
For years, soccer mothers have carried the flag for American soccer with their lost-shinguard-finding, post-game-fast-food-feeding dedication to the sport.
And we have been confused and irritated that this game isn't a lock for the U.S., considering the money we've spent on tournaments fees and motel rooms for 14 teenagers who don't want to go to sleep.
Still, all that money might be the reason the U.S. has moved up a level in World Cup soccer.
The U.S team is considered a rising power thanks to three factors defined by authors Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski in their book, "Soccernomics."
We have a large population base; our per-capita income is high enough to support our kids in the sport (no, really?); and we are gaining more experience in international competition. (And you can guess who is paying for the airline tickets: the soccer moms.)
Americans also have the appealing reputation as gritty underdogs. We don't have a Maradona or a Pele, but our gritty underdogs can win Best in Show anytime.
Ask any soccer mom, and she will tell you that she'd rather have her soccer player known for his gritty underdog-ness than for his show-stopping, goal-scoring style. After all, it's just that attitude that got Donovan a spot on the chair next to David Letterman, another sign of sports success in this country.
Not to brag, but my son, Joe, was known for his gritty underdog-ness. His high school team didn't win many games, but they put him on the opponent's best player and Joe would bird-dog him into frustrated scorelessness.
"Mom," he said. "Get real. Fifteen years of soccer, and I've never scored with my left foot."
Details, details, said this soccer mom. "I wrote all the checks with my right hand. And they all got cashed."
If a World Cup can be bought, like a Super Bowl trophy or a World Series ring, with a high payroll, then American soccer moms definitely have this one coming.