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?
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