Americans Mount Amazing Comeback, Settle For Tie After Go-Ahead Goal Is Disallowed

Here is the play that American soccer fans will be talking about for a long time: Referee Koman Coulibaly disallowing a goal by U.S.’ Maurice Edu after calling a foul in the box. The only problem: As seen in the video below, it doesn’t appear that any foul ever occurred. If anything, it looks as if a foul should’ve been called against Slovenia for mobbing the American players:

Certainly, the Americans are pleased with the one point they earned from their comeback performance. But it’ll be hard not to dwell on the three points that could’ve been.

The United States scored two second half goals to comeback from a halftime deficit, getting a point from Slovenia after a controversial 2-2 draw Friday. Referee Koman Coulibaly’s whistle canceling out a late, set piece conversion from Maurice Edu left questions as to whether the United States deserved all three points.

The U.S. went into halftime down 2-0 after first half goals from Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic but immediately pulled one back after the second half kickoff when Landon Donovan put a shot from Samir Handanovic’s left, near the goal line, into the top of the net. In the 47th minute, the United States had made it 2-1.

A long ball targeting Jozy Altidore in the arch was knocked down for Michael Bradley, whose finish from 16 yards out has pulled the United States even with Slovenia, 2-2.

A Landon Donovan run dragged left back Bojan Jokic across the area, leaving the left side of defense open for Bradley, who ran onto the Altidore ball and beat Samir Handanovic for the equalizer.

Landon Donovan’s 48th minute goal from along the goal line, into the top of the net has putted the United States within one.

Donovan advanced down the right side of the Slovenia area, eventually cutting-in along the goal line. Slovenia failed to close the U.S. attacker down before he was within a few meters of Samir Handanovic, and a shot that went just above the Slovene `keeper’s head found the net.

Bob Bradley has made two substitutions coming out of halftime, bringing on Benny Feilhaber and Maurice Edu in a move that will presumably put Clint Dempsey into a forward position.

That position was previously occupied by Robbie Findley, who has been taken out. Jose Francisco Torres is also out of the match.

The match played out as expected for 13 minutes. Then the United States had one lapse in defense, setting themselves up to play into Slovenia’s hands.

Valter Birsa’s left-footed shot from 24 yards found the right side of Tim Howard’s net, putting Slovenia up 1-0 just under a quarter-hour into the match. The United States had nobody within two meters of Birsa at the time the Slovenia attacker let go of the shot.

Zlatan Ljubijankic was a surprise starter over Zlatko Dedic, but Matzaj Kek’s decision has paid-off with the attacker’s counter-attack goal to put Slovenia up 2-0.

The Slovenes countered after two minutes of furious attacking for the Untied States that saw two great scoring opportunities, but Slovenia caught the United States with midfielders and fullbacks forward, played the ball to Milivoje Novakovic in front of the line, who found Ljubijankic running free toward goal. The Slovene slid the ball past an oncoming Time Howard to put the U.S. down 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

The United States have fallen behind early, allowing Valter Birsa and his left foot too much time from 24 yards, allowing the Slovene attacker to beat Tim Howard to the right side of the net, giving the Slovenes a 1-0 lead after 12 minutes.

Birsa was left alone just above the arc, able to take a touch and run onto the ball with no resistance. The closest opposition was still meters away when Birsa let the shot go, putting the Group C leaders up one.

In that way, soccer is a lot like boxing. You get two sluggers in the ring, you’re in for firepowers. A slugger and a technician, and you’ve got an interesting clash of styles. Two technicians and you have a bout that looks like a series of 10-10 rounds.

The United States and Slovenia is like Pernell Whitaker shadow boxing.