United States vs Slovenia Result World Cup 2010 Result
posted Jun-19 | 185 hits
United States vs Slovenia Final Score : 2 - 2 We update World Cup 2010 match United States vs Slovenia result ( also Slovenia vs United States result ), information, review, analysis, also match United States vs Slovenia video and photos. United States vs Slovenia Stadium : Ellis Park Time : June 18, 2010 - 16:00 South Africa time Type : Group C match - The World Cup 2010 Result
United States vs Slovenia result ( also Slovenia vs United States result ) United States vs Slovenia Final Score : 2-2 Slovenia Goals : Valter Birsa (13"), Zlatan Ljubijankic (41") United States Goals : Landon Donovan (47"), Michael Bradley(82") Referee : Koman Coulibaly
United States vs Slovenia Match Analysis : Michael Bradley gave his father and national manager Bob the perfect father’s day gift by scoring a dramatic equaliser for the United States in their Group C game with Slovenia. The Europeans looked to have booked their spot in the last 16 after opening up a two-goal first half lead but were stunned by their opponents’ fightback, which was sparked by Landon Donovan’s ferocious close range effort to half the deficit.
But it should have been even sweeter for the States as Maurice Edu looked to have scored their winner with five minutes to go, only for referee Koman Coulibaly to controversially rule it out, adjuging a US player had prevented his marker from getting to the ball by holding him in the box.
If America feel robbed by the decision not to award them a winner, Slovenia will feel sick to have thrown away a two-goal lead which would have seen them safely through to the second round in only their second World Cup appearance.
Matjaz Kek’s team deserved their opener after just 12 minutes, with the US inviting their opponents to come at them in the hope of soaking up the pressure. But that tactic backfired when Valter Birsa found room on the edge of the area, curling home an unstoppable effort past Howard.
Zlatan Ljubijankic then made it two after Milivoje Novakovic’s pass split the US defence wide open, the striker breaking clear before slotting a composed finish across Howard into the bottom right corner three minutes from the interval.
But the US came out fighting in the second period, making two substitutions – including Edu – at the break, as they looked to find a way back into the match.
And that breakthrough came just three minutes after the restart when LA Galaxy star Donovan was afforded too much room on the right flank. Sensing the opportunity, he headed for goal before blasting the ball at keeper Samir Handanovic, squeezing the ball between his head and the crossbar to put his team back in the match.
A succession of dead ball opportunities followed for the US, which Donovan took, and his team-mates came close on a number of occasions to finding their equaliser, dominating the attacking play.
Then, with eight minutes left on the clock, their moment arrived. Donovan’s crossfield pass from the right touchline was won well in the air by Altidore, who headed the ball down into the path of Bradley, who had made a lung-bursting run from midfield to get on the end of his knockdown.
Stretching for the ball, his effort could have went anywhere as it bounced off his laces but, to his delight, he found the roof of the net by beating Handanovic marginally to the ball, stabbing the ball past the keeper to make it 2-2.
Then came Edu’s strike which should have won the game for the US, only for referee Coulibaly to blow for a foul in contentious circumstances. Several Slovenian players had their arms around their markers as another deep Donovan free-kick was swung in from the right, the Rangers man one of the few to break free from being impeded.
Steering the ball into the net from six yards, Edu couldn’t believe it when he heard Coulibaly’s whistle, with the US players adjudged to be in the wrong instead of their Slovenian counterparts.
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