SIZZLING 2ND HALF BY USA SALVAGES 2-2 DRAW WITH SLOVENIA; TOOTHLESS ENGLAND DRAW WITH ALGERIA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Jun 2010
A fighting USA team clawed back from being two goals down at halftime to salvage a 2-2 draw against Slovenia with a sizzling second half display and may have even been denied victory when referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali rule out a late goal by Maurice Edu with no clear indication of what the infraction was.
With a listless and disorganized England team held to a goalless draw by a sprightly Algerian squad a titanic battle for the second spot behind Slovenia between the USA, England and Algeria unfolds in the exciting Group C elimination round at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, late Friday in a match telecast by SkyCable?s ?Balls? Channel 34..
England?s performance was described as toothless in a FIFA match report while the England fans, some 40,000 who had traveled to South Africa to cheer their side on and dominated the crowd at the Green Point stadium demonstrated their frustration by booing a wayward Frank Lampard effort and again when the full-time whistle went.
The much-hyped Wayne Rooney produced nothing while hardworking skiper Steven Gerard was played on the left to make way for Lampard in the middle by Fabio Capello who marked his 64th birthday but had no reason to celebrate. Capello left the arena with his head bowed as did the majority of the England players. It all comes down to the final group matches with England playing current section leaders Slovenia in Port Elizabeth and USA facing Algeria in Pretoria.
Slovenia appeared headed for a second straight win in the group when they took a 2-0 lead into the break through Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic but the Americans hit back as key striker and "Man of the Match" Landon Donovan narrowed the deficit before Michael Bradley equalized eight minutes from time.
What proved to be an exciting match opened in sensational fashion with Birsa blasting Slovenia into an early lead after 13 minutes. The midfielder collected the ball some 25 yards from goal and left US goalkeeper Tim Howard rooted to the spot with an expertly-guided strike to Howard?s left. Coach Bradley's men sought a response and came close when midfielder Francisco Torres fired in an in-swinging free-kick from out wide that drew a fingertip save from Samir Handanovic. Donovan then looked set to tap in Clint Dempsey's low cross only for defender Miso Brecko to get a decisive touch to clear the ball.
The FIFA match report said Slovenia looked to be in dreamland in the 42nd minute when Ljubijankic doubled their lead. Milivoje Novakovic played a defense-splitting pass through to Ljubijankic who, with the Americans appealing in vain for offside, slipped the ball coolly past Howard. Yet Donovan threw the Americans a lifeline three minutes after the restart when Bostjan Cesar failed to deal with a ball down the right touchline, allowing the LA Galaxy man a free run into the box. Cutting in from the right, Donovan lashed a superb shot high above Handanovic at the near post.
As the Slovenia defense struggled to cope with the power and aerial strength of the imposing Jozy Altidore, the USA maintained the pressure the coach's son grabbed the US the point their efforts deserved ? a father-and-son first in the FIFA World Cup. Altidore nodded a high ball down into the path of the onrushing midfielder and Michael Bradley fired emphatically into the roof of the net. The Americans might even have won the game only for referee Koman Coulibaly to rule out a goal from Maurice Edu, who volleyed home Donovan's free-kick from the right. There was still time for Novakovic to threaten with a header at the other end but his effort was held comfortably by Howard.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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