June 18, 2010 – The US Men’s National Team came from two goals down at halftime to earn a 2-2 draw with a quality, Slovenian team in their second Group C match. The result keeps the US hopes of advancing alive but things could have gone better for the Americans if not for two controversial decisions.
The first of these decisions was made by US Coach Bob Bradley. Despite the team’s solid performance against England, Bradley decided to make a change to his line up, replacing the defensive-minded Ricardo Clark with Jose Torres in central midfield.
This move seemed to bite the US in the 13th minute when Valter Brisa found space in front of the US back line, an area normally patrolled by Clark. The Slovenian midfielder took a couple of touches before putting his head down and drilling a left-footed shot into the corner of the net from 25 yards out. Tim Howard could do nothing but watch as the ball flew past him.
Trailing early once again the Americans fought back, winning a free kick two minute later. Landon Donovan’s ball into the box looked threatening and it required a good punch from the Slovenian keeper, Samir Handanovic, to clear the danger.
In the 22nd minute, it was Howard who had to deal with a free kick. He did well to get to his far post and collect the ball with a Slovenian player making a run right in front of him.
In the 35th minute, Bostjan Cesar was cautioned for a foul on Jozy Altidore as he drove toward the penalty area. From the resulting free kick, Torres fired a well-placed shot toward the near post that Handanovic did well to push out for a corner. Torres’ corner kick was cleared only as far as Jay DeMerit, who headed wide from the top of the area.
The US was putting a lot of pressure on the Slovenians, looking for an equalizer. In the 39th minute, Donovan stole the ball in midfield and played it up to Robbie Findley, who drove into the box. The Real Salt Lake striker saw his cross cut out for a corner when shooting might have been the better option. From the resulting set piece, Findley was curiously given a yellow card for hand ball. Replays showed that the ball came through traffic and hit him in the face before bouncing off his hand.
A minute later, the Americans put together their best sequence of the half. Steve Cherundolo won the ball in the US half and played it to Torres in a central position. He in turn knocked it forward to Donovan, whose clever one-touch pass sent Altidore on his way. Jozy passed to Findley who played it out to Clint Dempsey. The Texan sent an inviting cross toward Donovan, who’d continued his run from midfield. Landon nearly got on the end it but the ball was intercepted in the last second by Miso Brecko for yet another US corner.
The Americans were pushing lots of players forward and got caught on the counter attack three minutes before halftime. Donovan was disposed at midfield and the Slovenians put together a couple of quick passes, beating the offside trap before Zlatan Ljubijankic slipped the ball under the stranded Howard to make it 2-0.
The US made two substitutions at the start of the second half. Maurice Edu came on for Torres and Benny Feilhaber replaced Findley, who will miss the last group match against Algeria unless his yellow card is rescinded. After just three minutes, the US was back in the match. Cherundolo’s ball up to Donovan eluded the Slovenian defender and the US playmaker dribbled into the area from the right corner. He looked up to see if any of his teammates were available for a cross. Realizing he was alone, Landon ran at Handanovic and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. The US almost leveled the score a couple of minutes later but Oguchi Onyewu couldn’t quite get on the end of Donovan’s free kick towards the far post.
The American pressure continued as the US creating several half-chances over the next 10-15 minutes with only the occasional response from Slovenia. In the 69th minute, Marko Suler was cautioned for pulling down Altidore on the top of the box as the young striker tried to get to a pass from Donovan. Landon knocked the free kick into the area where a scrabble ensued. Altidore got to the ball, swiveled an shot but his effort was saved by Handanovic.
Slovenia’s defending was becoming increasingly desperate and Andraz Kirm went into the referee’s notebook three minutes later for a cynical foul on Cherundolo. The right fullback took the free kick and Feilhaber managed to get his volley from the top of the box on net without really troubling the keeper. Bojan Jokic received a yellow card in the 75th minute for a foul from behind on Donovan.
In the 80th minute, Coach Bradley went for broke, replacing one of his central defenders, Onyewu, with striker Herculez Gomez. The gamble paid off two minutes later when the outstanding Donovan played a great ball up to Altidore, who headed the ball down and into the path of Michael Bradley. The coach’s son applied the perfect touch to direct the ball past Handanovic and the US were level.
Slovenia was on the ropes now and they conceded another dangerous free kick with four minutes to play when Altidore was pushed over near the right corner of the penalty area. Donovan’s free kick found Edu making an intelligent run and the substitute knocked the ball into the back of the net. But it was all for not as the second questionable decision was made by the Malian referee, Koman Coulibaly. The official apparently spotted a foul against the US but several replays failed to show any infraction.
The decision seemed to take some of the wind out of the US sails and it was Slovenia that had the better chances in the dying minutes of the match. Howard was forced to make a couple of good saves. In the end, the was US left with a point when earlier it had seemed as if they would lose and then win the match.
The tie leaves the US in an uncertain situation. They’re still alive to advance but might need help to do so. The outcome of Group C play will not be known until the final whistle blows on June 23.
Player rating for the US team follows (scored 1-10):
Tim Howard, goalkeeper (7): Nothing he could do about either goal. He made some quality saves throughout the match and commanded his penalty area with authority.
Oguchi Onyewu, central defender (5): Quite a drop off from his performance against England as might be expected form a player returning from a lengthy injury. He looked a bit slow and tired before being sacrificed late from another striker.
Jay DeMerit, central defender (7): Tight marking, strong tackles and clearances defined his performance today. He even got forward to put in a dangerous header in the first half. America’s best defender on the day.
Steve Cherundolo, right fullback (6): Another US defender who failed to replicate his fine performance from Saturday. He didn’t get forward as often or look as sure of himself in defense. That being said, he still caused some problems for the Slovenians down the right flank.
Carlos Bocanegra, left fullback (5): A second consecutive quiet performance from the captain. He didn’t look that commanding defensively, failed factor on set pieces and was unable to distribute the ball out of the back with any precision. One has to wonder if he’s completely recovered from hernia surgery.
Jose Torres, central midfielder (5): The talent’s there, as was evident on his free kick, but he just doesn’t fit in with the US setup. His substitution at halftime was not unexpected.
Michael Bradley, central midfielder (7): A very mature and composed performance by Bradley. His vital, late goal was just reward for a match full of hard work and intelligent passing.
Landon Donovan, left midfielder (8): A constant threat going forward, he scored one goal and set up the other. Perhaps bore some of the responsibility for Slovenia’s goals but more than atoned for them with his offensive contributions (Man of the Match).
Clint Dempsey, right midfielder (5): He was combative throughout but on the day lacked the skill and technique we know he possesses.
Robbie Findley, striker (5): His lack of confidence was apparent, especially in the first half when he elected to pass from inside the area when shooting seemed like the better choice.
Jozy Altidore, striker (6): Fairly quiet in the first half, he came on in the second interval to cause the Slovenian defense all kinds of problems. He won numerous free kicks and his header to Bradley set up the equalizer.
Substitutes:
Maurice Edu, central midfielder (5): He struggled to get into the match and I really don’t remember him doing much of anything until his goal was ruled out late in the game.
Benny Feilhaber, midfielder (6): He was involved in a lot of the build up during the second half onslaught by the US. He was perhaps a bit negligent defensively but looked good going forward.
Herculez Gomez, striker (no rating): Didn’t receive any service during the 10-15 minutes he was on the field.
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