US Comes Back From Two Goal Deficit For Crucial Draw Against Slovenia

Edu's Late Winner Called Off For Unknown Infraction

June 18, 2010

By Sean Donahue

The United States (0-0-2, 2 points) got off to another slow start in the world Cup and found themselves in a 2-0 deficit to Slovenia (1-0-1, 4 points) at halftime, but Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley both struck in the second half to give the U.S. a vital point in the second group game. Maurice Edu seemed to have earned the U.S. a win, redirecting in an 86th minute free kick, but his effort did not count as the referee blew for a phantom foul.

Slovenia took the lead just thirteen minutes into the match when Valter Birsa found himself in space about 25 yards from goal. Birsa lined up his shot and fired a powerful effort to Tim Howard’s right, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

The U.S. pegged Slovenia back with a few chances of their own, but could not find the back of the net and were soon put further behind on a Slovenia counter attack. Zlatan Ljubijankic was played behind the defense on a through ball from Milivoje Novakovic and calmly slotted the ball past Howard. Ljubijankic was kept onside by Oguchi Onyewu, who failed to step forward with the rest of the defense.

Head Coach Bob Bradley made two changes to the line-up at halftime in an attempt to inject some life into the U.S. side, bringing on Benny Feilhaber and Maurice Edu for Robbie Findley and Jose Torres. Torres, who got the start over Clark, was largely ineffective. Findley received an early yellow card for a hand ball that actually appeared to hit his head, and will miss the next match due to yellow card accumulation.

“The starting point is to understand that there’s 45 minutes to go, and everybody needs to understand how we’re going to push the game, so right away we made two changes,” said Bradley. “Early in the game we said it would be a tactical game, so things are still in the process of being sorted out.”

With more men in the midfield, the U.S. took control of the game. Just three minutes into the second half Donovan brought the U.S. within a goal. The U.S.’ all-time leading scorer received a pass down the right flank from Steve Cherundolo that eluded defender Bostjan Cesar. Donovan ran into the box near the end line and blasted a shot past a stunned Samir Handanovic from a tight angle.

The U.S. got their equalizer in the 82nd minute through Michael Bradley. Jozy Altidore headed down a long pass in the box right into the path of Bradley, who directed it over Handanovic to tie the game at 2-2.

Just four minutes later the U.S. seemed to have taken the lead and complete a miraculous comeback, when a Donovan free kick curled just in front of the defense and was poked in by Edu. Referee Koman Coulibaly, however, whistled the play dead for an infraction that wasn’t made clear by any replays.

“I am assuming it was a foul somewhere,” said Donovan. “It could not have been offside. We asked him where the foul was but he did not say. I don’t know what to think of the call. To be honest I don’t know how much English he speaks. When we asked him numerous times in a non-controversial manner he ignored us.”

The draw, combined with England’s 0-0 draw with Algeria later in the day, means the U.S. can clinch a spot in the knockout stages with a win against Algeria on Wednesday.

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