The Computer Wore Menace Shoes

USA's Landon Donovan blasts the team's first goal of the match over the head of Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. The Americans went on to tie, 2-2.

All the factors were there for an incredible come-from-behind victory for the United States. Down 2-0 at halftime, the U.S. battled back behind goals from Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, and, with four minutes left in the match, substitute Maurice Edu knocked in the winning goal from a free kick sent into the area.

It was jubilation all around. The players had just pulled off a stunning comeback win. At the Rose & Crown pub in Phoenix, where I was watching the match, everyone was screaming. The USA would have four points and be tied atop group C, in perfect position even if England beat Algeria and there’s a three-way tie going into the final match because the U.S. would have Algeria in the final group match.

But the goal was disallowed. Malian referee Koman Coulibaly saw something. What he saw, nobody knows yet. Nobody was offside. There was no apparent foul by an American player. The obvious foul was actually on Bradley, being caught in a bear hug from behind by a Slovenian defender. Not even FIFA has a clue at this point what Coulibaly saw to decide the third USA goal should be called back.

Although the United States had two points taken away by the referee, the resilience the team displayed was simply incredible. Down 2-0 a few minutes before halftime, the American attack started showing some signs of life. And in the second half, it gave Slovenia more than it could handle.

Just three minutes into the second half, the pressure got to Slovenia. Donovan’s defender misjudged a long ball, allowing him to collect it behind him and cut to goal. With no options opening up in the middle, Donovan decided to have a go himself, launching a rocket over the head of Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and into the roof of the net.

And although the U.S. had to do some defensive work and rely on Tim Howard for a couple big stops, the team kept pressing Slovenia throughout the second half, forcing their backs into several fouls. It paid off in the 82nd minute, when Bradley latched onto Jozy Altidore’s headed layoff and neatly placed it over the head of the onrushing Handanovic.

In order to get out of the group stage, however, the United States must not give up goals, especially such early ones, against Algeria. Slovenia benefited from some early defensive lapses by the Americans to go up 2-0 by halftime.

Valter Birsa had the Slovenians ahead in the 14th minute. The Auxerre midfielder found a few yards of space and let fly a left-footed, curling shot from 20 yards that left Howard frozen. The first half was all Slovenia on the attack, and they would find the goal again three minutes before the break.

Gent forward Zlatan Ljubijankic made a well timed run behind Jay DeMerit, cleanly collected the through pass and cooly slotted a shot under Howard to double Slovenia’s lead.

Perhaps sensing the necessity of collecting points in this match, Bob Bradley didn’t delay his substitutions as long. Benny Feilhaber and Maurice Edu replaced Jose Torres and Robbie Findley to start the second half. Torres hadn’t been able to contribute much other than a stinging free kick that Handanovic made a diving save to keep out, and Findley simply seemed out of his league. He was fast, but his skill needs to catch up with his speed. Findley, however, will be suspended for the Algeria match after he picked up his second yellow card of the group stage in the 40th minute for taking a ball off his face. (Seriously, this was the quality of refereeing in this match.)

The substitutes changed the match immediately, and the U.S. had several good chances between its two goals. Oguchi Onyewu just couldn’t get on the end of a Donovan free kick flicked on by Clint Dempsey in the 51st minute, and Jozy Altidore was unfortunate to put a shot straight at Handanovic after the Slovenia defense lost a free kick put into the penalty area.

After the game, ESPN’s on-field reporter tried to push coach Bradley into slamming the officials, asking several questions about the quality of officiating. Bradley sort of bit when asked how the players feel after such an outcome.

After working as hard as they did, “the players want a fair outcome,” said Bradley.

And a fair outcome is not what the U.S. got from this match. But despite the draw, the U.S. is in a good position to move on. Slovenia has four points, and the U.S. has two. If England beats Algeria and goes to four points, a U.S. win against Algeria and any result other than a draw between Slovenia and England will see the Americans through automatically. A Slovenia-England draw would send it to tie breakers.

If, however, England draw or lose, it gets more complicated. Algeria would not be eliminated with one or three points and could get to the next round by defeating the USA next week.

England versus Algeria is today at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Group C wraps up Wednesday, with both matches at 10 a.m. ET. USA-Algeria will be on ESPN, and Slovenia-England will be on ESPN2.