US with historic rally to tie Slovenia

It was a tale of two halves and a phantom referee decision on Fridy afternoon in South Africa at the 2010 World Cup.  The Americans were clearly nto fancying the role of favorites as they were beaten in every phase of the game in the opening half.  Coach Bob Bradley inserted Jose Torres to hopefully aid in possession, but the move did not work as the US lacked patience in the first half continually giving the ball away early.

Slovenia shocked the US going ahead as Valter Birsa drifted inside and fired home past a flatfooted Tim Howard in the 13th minute.  Birsa drifted inside from the right side and found space in front of the American defense.  Slovenia were on the front foot the rest of the half as the US chased possession.  Once the US finally got their feet under them and started to put on some pressure, Slovenia struck.  Zlatan Ljubijankic beat the offside trap and finished past Howard giving Slovenia the 2-0 halftime lead.

It would have been easy to mail it in, but that is just not how this US team plays.  Time and time again over the last couple of years this squad has rallied to get results.  Friday would be the ultimate rally on the ultimate stage against a defense that rally allowed any goals in the qualifying runup.

Coach Bob Bradley inserted more offense at the half and it clearly got the US on the front foot.  Landon Donovan gave the US hope early in the second half as he got loose down the right side skipping in on goal.  He was looking to drag a pass back to onrushing attackers, but Slovenia were chasin back to take that option away.  Instead Donovan decided he would do it himself from a tough angle.  His only hope was to go hard and high which is exactly what he did in roofing the shot from 6 yards out.  A tremendous job of finishing and the game wa back on.

The Americans were buzzing and nearly scored a few minutes later but Jozy Altidore's rocket hit keeper Handanovic squarely in the chest from 10 yards out.  Slovenia were doing all they could to hang on, but it was not to be their day.  After adding a third forward a longball was headed down by Jozy Altidore to the onrushing Michael Bradley who expertly directed the ball into the net tying the game.  The crowd erupted and really the only question from there was whether or not the US could find the winner.

The winner looked to have come in the 86th minute as Maurice Edu appeared to put the US ahead, volleying in from close range on Landon Donovan's free kick.  The whistle blew and referee Koman Couilibaly of Mali ruled a foul occurred even though replays showed nothing out of the ordinary.  It was a phanton call of epic proportions as the goal was a good goal by any standard.

"I'm a little gutted to be honest," Donovan said. "I don't know how they stole that last goal from us. I'm not sure what the call was. He (the referee) wouldn't tell us what the call was."

The Americans now sit on two points with all to play for against Algeria in their final group match.  They'll have to win the game, but that would probably be more than enough to put the US into the knockout phase.