Slovenia Vs. USA, 2011 International Friendly: USMNT Defeat Slovenia 3-2

Here’s the video evidence to prove it:

Buddle broke the U.S. goal drought just nine minutes in when he hopped on a loose ball and ripped a 20-yard shot off of the post and in. The goal was created by pressure from Clint Dempsey, who pushed high and forced a giveaway from the Slovenia defense. The ball fell to Buddle, who showed no hesitation is letting his shot go and the Americans were in front early.

As quickly as Slovenia equalized though, the U.S. grabbed the lead back. Slovenia has been poor defending set pieces lately and the U.S. was all too happy to take advantage of it. Dempsey got free from his mark on a corner kick and was able to head home the go-ahead goal.

Matavz did well to nod the ball down, then got a pass back, leaving him in on goal for the simple finish that cut the U.S. lead to one. He’s been a menace all game, earlier rattling the bar and being right in the middle of a play that saw another ball hit the bar. He has a brace and very well could add to it before the end of this one.

The U.S. defense has been downright awful. They are unorganized and a diamond midfield in front of a bad back line is probably not the best idea, but that’s what the U.S. is going with.

Dempsey did well to get free on a corner kick and found space from seven yards. The Slovenians have developed a reputation of being poor defending set pieces and showed why in letting Dempsey, the best finisher the U.S. has, get completely free. Once unmarked, Dempsey wasn’t going to miss and he nodded home the corner kick to put the U.S. in front.

Just minutes later, Dempsey got in behind the Slovenia defense. He got clipped on his heel and went down to the grass. It was a clear penalty and the referee had no choice but to give it. Altidore took the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way with a good, hard shot that put the U.S. in front 3-1 before the half.

Somehow, the U.S. left a huge hole in the center of the field. Their central defenders were spread out and Timothy Chandler was completely missing, allowing Matavz to slip in unmarked. The PSV striker equalized and this match is back on even terms.

The question now for the U.S. is whether they’ll be able to keep Slovenia quiet with their high line. They have been vulnerable to getting caught napping, as they did on the Matavz goal, and while they’ve done well to get Slovenia caught offside a few times, they are straddling a fine line.

High pressure has been one constant for the U.S. under Klinsmann and now it’s turned into a goal. The Americans will continue pressuring high and see if they can turn it into another goal, but with just one they are already well ahead of their recent average.

USMNT starters: Howard, Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (captain), Chandler, Beckerman, Bradley, Johnson, Dempsey; Buddle, Altidore. Bench: Hamid, Orozco Fiscal, Williams, Edu, Jones, Rogers, Shea.

TV: ESPN2 (USA - English), Galavision (USA - Spanish)

Online: ESPN3.com

Chances are going to be even harder to come by against Slovenia. They’re one of the better defensive teams in Europe and will put numbers behind the ball, meaning that unless the U.S. is going to flash some sort of creativity that they’ve been completely without under Klinsmann, they’ll have to be deadly on the counter-attack and on set pieces. Unfortunately, they haven’t been the slightest bit dangerous on either of those lately.

Meanwhile, the Americans will be troubled defensively too. Slovenia isn’t the most high-powered of teams, but they do have their threats. Tim Matavz is one of the best young strikers in the world and will be able to take advantage of any lapses along the U.S. back line, either in the air or getting in behind the defense on long balls over the top, which troubled the U.S. against France. Additionally, the Slovenians are very good on the counter-attack, meaning that they have to maintain their shape in a system they are still getting used to.