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USA battles from two down to keep World Cup hopes alive

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Photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. national team found itself in a familiar position, trailing Slovenia after surrendering an early goal, but once again it fought back to earn a 2-2 result in its second Group C match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Second-half goals from Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley negated a 2-0 Slovenia lead. Despite getting a draw, the Americans will feel somewhat disappointed with the result, having come close to claiming three points late in the game.

In the 84th minute, Donovan curled in a free kick from the right flank that Maurice Edu smashed home from close range, but it was disallowed due to a controversial call.

It was unclear what referee Koman Coulibaly called, but the United States' still managed to fight back and earn a result in a match that began in poorly for the Americans.

Slovenia got on the scoreboard in the 13th minute with a Valter Birsa strike from distance that soared into the goal. The Slovenians added a second just before hafltime, when Zlatan Ljubijankic took advantage of Oguchi Onyewu's positioning to slip behind the defense and score easily on a breakaway.

After a flat first half, the United States immediately cut the deficit in half when Donovan found space down the right flank before blasting a shot past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and into the roof of the net from a tight angle in the 48th.

The Americans pushed for an equalizer and found it eight minutes from the final whistle. Donovan served a long ball to Jozy Altidore, and he knocked it down to Michael Bradley, who made a deep run from the midfield. Bradley finished with a one-time shot over Handanovic, causing the pro-U.S. crowd to burst into jubilation.

It appeared to get even better for the United States when Edu finished off Donovan's free kick from close range, but a phantom foul or offsides was called by Coulibaly.

The game ended 2-2, and although the result might not feel like a positive one for the Americans, it still gives them a chance to advance to the second round if it can defeat Algeria by two goals on June 23.

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What did you think of the game? Still believe the United States will make it out of the group? Who impressed/disappointed you?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. how about that assist on that crucial tieing goal???

    How about the way he schools defenders to create chances, in ever game. How about how he fights physically with all the defenders, giving them a hard time?

    How about getting on the end of loose balls in the box and firing a shot ON GOAL.

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  2. Only a few people have said this, but I’m SOOOOOO glad that Findley will miss the next match. It’s like Bradley came in to this world cup (without really trying this out in qualifying) and said “I know…last year Charlie Davies was really good in the Confederations Cup…he’s short and fast…he can’t be here, but Robbie Findley is short and fast…let’s just put in Findley!” Wrong Bob. Davies has a fine touch and control while Findley is JUST short and fast. Why is the goal-scoring machine Buddle on the bench???? Imagine a Buddle-Altidore pairing? We’d gang up on any defense!

    If the US makes the Round of 16, Robbie Findley needs to have a nice plaid blanket seat on the bench FOREVER.

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  3. Oh BLAH BLAH BLAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!

    If you ask me Senior got blood from a stone today.

    It was the subbing and the change of formation in the 70th plus minute that helped get the draw and what should have been the win?

    BB has trained this group to cave and to keep fighting even when they’re down two after 45 minutes of flat play?

    That’s not underperforming, that’s a coach making players better than they are on a given day.

    Enough with the fire BB already. This guy (who I would regularly berate during qualifying) earns more of my respect with each passing match. His strategy to start Torres didn’t work out, but truthfully we were all hollering for it. And the team looked frustrated edgy and scared the first 45. Give Slovenia credit though, they came our pushing when we all though they would hang back. Edu or Clark would have been the right call from the get go. Still think Buddle over Findley would have been the better choice though, but considering how flat everyone was maybe that wouldn’t have mattered either–shame about his card as we could use his speed against Algeria.

    There is no way in hell the US should have gotten a point today, let alone feel robbed for 3 after their first half perfromance. Credit (and blame) goes to EVERYONE, especially the coaches for turning it around.

    If you can’t see that then maybe you really don’t get the game, son.

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  4. Yes, I’m serious. I think nothing’s off limits when it comes to ones rapist. And make no mistake, that ref gave it to us hard. All with a smile on his face.

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  5. For me it was an obvious case of the English buying off the ref. He called straight whistle blows on almost every free kick or corner kick that looked dangerous forcing us to score from the run of play. Obviously the English are up for it . Their fa president got dismissed for getting caught talking some in this regard.

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  6. Damn reff! What’s new though?? I was a bit happy though that the U.S was able to come back and get a result. They will have to play their hearts out next game.

    Torres: BIG FREAKING MISTAKE! I will continue to say this, we are not Brazil, nor are we a touch & ground football team. We are built on defense, the rest just follows our skeme. Rico should have had the start. We didn’t go out respecting Slovenia like we should have, and we paid for it. Algeria is no freaking joke!

    Great teams don’t lose to weaker teams, and the U.S is showing signs of what big teams do in late stages. I’m very proud. Algeria & Slovenia were sand baging this whole time. 🙂

    VIVA EL MUNDIAL!

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  7. Why is it impossible for the US to impose it’s will and dominance on a game from the very beginning? Coaching? Players? Tactics? Confidence? Son-of-a-bitch if we haven’t figured that out by now and stopped giving these teams so much unmerited frickin respect. Play them hard, play them tight and bruise them as much as possible. Come on Bradley, take the game to Algeria and put THEM on the back foot from the start. Stop pussyfooting around and finish the bastards off.

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  8. Also, due to the ENG-ALG game, all USA has to do is win and they are through no matter what. In fact, they can draw and still advance as long as England don’t win.

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  9. underperform? not sure about that. he won a gold cup, almost beat brazil in confed cup final. has the US in position to advance to the second round. the fire bb talk is tiresome and rubbish!

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  10. The only problem with having two referees is a difference in opinion. The two officials would have two completely different vantage points and would both have to be of the same opinion on a foul or non-foul. I say put an official next to each goal like in the Europa league. They may do nothing for 10 games but stand there and look stupid, but when they make a game-changing call like we needed today it will pay off.

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  11. I’m pretty sure the referee blew his whistle right after Edu broke free from his man, as if he knew Edu was going to score!!

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  12. If it wasn’t for JOZY (not JOSEY), the US would have lost 2-1. Take a look at the second goal and name one other player on the US roster who could’ve done that.

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  13. As far as time playing together to develop rapport, there’s nothing better than time.

    As far as commnication on the pitch – all the players froma all countries are complaining about the vuvuzelas, the decibels of sheer Bedlam and noise pollution on the field – you can’t even hear yourself curse the ref – much less shout out orders to your midfield or your backline mates.

    That’s a big problem.

    Overall we looked tentative and disorganized – bunched on the ball, ball watching instead of making runs, runs, decoy runs – making open space with our spacing.

    What happened to that crisp one touch passing we displayed at the beginning of the England game?

    Donovan rose to the occasion when he had to -like a LION!

    The kid from Central Jersey, I think his name is Michael – he put it away in the back of the net like a veteran, like a pro, like a natural – from New Jersey! 😉

    And by the way – England 0 – Algeria 0 FINAL.

    If we beat Algieria by any margin – the Slovenians and the three kitten boys will have a tete-a-tete about who goes through with us.

    But we have to beat Algeria.

    Ohhhhhhh………momma……we are ALIVE.

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  14. Just wondering:

    Have read a bunch of accounts of the game and lots of posts on various sites. Maybe I need to watch it again, but…

    Wasn’t the first goal completely Donovan’s fault? As they built up to that goal I thought to myself, “What is Landon doing?” His man, Birsa, floated in from the right, received the ball and had tons of time. At one point, Donovan turned away from the ball and adjusted his position away from Birsa… At this point is when he received the ball with acres of space to pick up his head and bang one upper 90.

    Did I miss something? If not, why is Landon getting such a pass?

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  15. The ball is not to blame, Rob Green is just garbage. It is a proven fact that you don’t score on 100% of the shots you don’t take. Dempsey took a chance.

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  16. No, it’s not his fault. The players win or lose the games. I really can’t argue at all with his decisions today.

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  17. Nevadas will be the most crowded, but it depends on what you are looking for. Any solid pub will be a good place to watch the match.

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  18. Just watched the phantom foul again, and again, and again. Seriously, can aggrieved nations like U.S. and Ireland call for FIFA to be disbandoned? Seriously, all you need for soccer is a ball and two players – No Fifa required. All you need for a World Cup is a sound officiating policy. Why does the World let a dinosaur like FIFA complicate the sport by fostering a system of injustice?

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  19. You should tell them that the only sports where a penalty call is explained are Hockey and Football. Basketball fouls don’t have to be and are hardly ever explained.

    And, there is a “umbrella of silence rule” for FIFA that says refs cannot explain why.

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  20. Dempsey was the ONLY player getting on the long balls from the defense in the first half. You are blind if you think he shouldn’t be in the team.

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  21. Great second half, and so nice to see the USA play with courage and fire.

    The team needs to have the confidence to be themselves. We cannot rely on having an iron clad defense because… we really don’t! But we look surprisingly good on the ball, something we’re not supposed to be.

    So I got my mainframe computer out of moth balls and figured the permutations. It is still all in the USA’s hands – if they beat Algeria – and beat them by enough goals – the USA will advance out of group play. So come on boys!

    The USA could have scored 4 or 5 goals in that game. Take and finish our chances, and the world is ours…

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  22. The one thing this tie and various bad calls, especially the disallowed goal, against the USA might do is have the USA actually come out with alot more passion, anger and flair against Algeria.

    I hope we score as many goals as possible and if we come out like we did in the 2nd half we might have 4 goals then it would just be a matter of playing sound positioned defense (looking at you Onyewu!)

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  23. Algeria is showing up on Wednesday regardless if win, lose, or draw v England. If they draw or win today, they still have a shot to get to the next round, so they will obviously try to win. If they lose, they will playing for pride to avoid 3 and out.

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  24. Haha, and the tie against England was more like kissing your really hot sister who might be adopted but you’re not quite sure.

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  25. if the USA would just, I dunno, score first, and build on the lead, then it wouldn’t be down to one potential game-changing call. if it’s 3 or 4-0, the ref will have a hard time throwing the game. It’s when we shoot ourselves in the foot early then fight back to have a chance that the blown call hurts the most…

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  26. An observation:

    We usually do not get the breaks in WCup soccer. I thought our luck had changed, but it has not. In two games, we got one lucky bounce in game one and one horrible goal called back on a phantom foul in game two. We have two points to show for it. Had both good and bad luck stayed away for the past week, we would have lost to England and beaten Slovenia, which would have gotten us three points and put us in a position to win the group against Algeria. Even when we get a lucky break, the situation breaks bad for us.

    Also, Fifa needs to institute a second onfield ref and allow for a one minute consultation period after controversy. The linseman was of no help at all today, and might as well have turned his back to the play. The ref must have known he was wrong for blowing his whistle, but without someone to consult with, he would have had to go against his own call. Please Blatter, do something.

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  27. The switches were good at half, but the starting lineup was a mistake. Findley should never even started, and he blew two good chances early. Like others said, yes he is fast, but speed does nothing if you can’t do anything with the ball when you’re 10 yards out. He blew one good run, and when he passed, he missed. He didn’t do much against England to justify his space against SLV, and he did enough today to keep him out of the rest of the cup. Buddle or Gomez, or even weird combos putting Dempsey or Holden higher could all have done better than Findley, who not only blew his chances but also gave away the ball overly much. BB had faith but it was misplaced. Buddle and Gomez were in-form strikers: they should be used, instead of Findley.

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  28. clark is rubbish. edu should have started.

    FIRE BB!!! teams constantly under-perform under him. he’s an mls coach at best.

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  29. Ives, we dont have to beat Algeria by two goals….as long as the England and Algeria result stays at 0-0, we just have to beat Algeria and we are through

    beating Algeria by two goals is one out of quite a few scenarios, infact i would say that that scenario is probably unlikely

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