“This is about supporting the USA,” engineering senior Steve Zuraski said. “There’s a feeling of patriotism. It’s more than just soccer.”

Before the game even began, red, white and blue clad fans were chanting “U-S-A” in anticipation of the matchup against Ghana.

Even when Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng gave the Black Stars a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute, the U.S. fans’ spirits were lessened only momentarily.

Sam Jenson, a psychology senior watching the game with Zuraski, said regardless of how big of a soccer fan someone is, it is hard not to support one’s country in an event such as the World Cup.

“It’s really easy to rally behind your team, behind your nation,” Jenson said. “I think a lot of people get into it that way even if this is the only time they watch soccer.

“I was a soccer geek all through high school, but when the World Cup is going on, everyone’s a soccer geek.”

As the U.S. team entered halftime down 1-0, Jenson said he wished the players in South Africa were playing with as much enthusiasm as the fans were cheering with all the way in East Lansing.

“We’re a second-half team, but we need a little more intensity,” Jenson said at halftime. “It’s not going to be easy anymore at this point.”

In the 62nd minute, U.S. forward Landon Donovan finally gave the fans at Buffalo Wild Wings something to cheer about, when he tied the game on a penalty kick.

Donovan’s goal sent the crowd into a frenzy, and once again ignited chants of “U-S-A.”

“When (Donovan) put that penalty kick in, I thought the game was ours,” East Lansing resident Shawn Mills said. “You could even feel it here, we had all the momentum.”

Unfortunately for Mills and the other fans, the U.S. never was able to score again and ended up losing the game, 2-1, after Ghana scored a goal in extra time.

“That was so heartbreaking,” Mills said of the loss. “I don’t think any of us wanted to believe that it happened.”

Mills was watching the game with friend and fellow East Lansing resident Aaron Rollison. Both said they did not miss a single minute of any of the U.S. games during the past two weeks.

Having watched the previous three games at his house with Mills, Rollison said they decided to try something different and watch Saturday’s game with other excited fans.

“We thought the atmosphere would be cool here, cheering with everyone else, but maybe we should have stayed home,” Rollison said laughing. “Maybe this was bad luck, we shouldn’t have changed anything.”

With the U.S. eliminated from competition, Mills said he was disappointed but still proud of his country’s performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“It was a tough game to lose, and even harder since it was so late in the game,” Mills said. “But they were lucky to make it out of pool play, so I’m happy with the way they played.

“I can’t wait until the next one in four years.”