Friday June 18, 2010 Group Stage: Group C Finished Ellis Park Stadium
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US hit back to deny Slovenia
United States staged a stirring fightback to draw 2-2 with Slovenia in the best game of the World Cup so far at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Slovenia
- USA
90+4' FULL-TIME! United States stage a stirring fightback to draw 2-2 with Slovenia in the best game of the World Cup so far at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
90+3' Andrej Komac replaces Pecnik.- 90+2' Pecnik and Dempsey go down in a heap after the Fulham player treads on the ball.
- 90+1' Dedic has a chance to play in Pecnik but his first touch is heavy.
- 90' Three minutes of added time.
89' Radosavljevic's long-range drive is pushed away by Howard, diving to his left.- 88' Pecnik's cross is met by Novakovic but the header is straight into the grateful arms of Howard.
- 87' Birsa replaced by Zlatko Dedic.
86' REAL CONTROVERSY! Donovan's free-kick is volleyed into the net by Edu but it is disallowed! Hard to see the foul as there were so many bodies in the area. Replays only indicate three US players being held by Slovenian defenders.- 85' Altidore is held back by Cesar and the US have a free-kick on the right.
- 84' The USA have reverted to four at the back.
- 83' Michael Bradley went straight over to his Dad, coach Bob, to celebrate. Game on!
82' GOAL!! USA EQUALISE! A long ball is knocked down by Altidore and Bradley, who has bust a gut to catch up with the play from midfield, rifles into the roof of the net.- 81' Bradley shoots on the turn but Handanovic gets down to his left to save the 25-yard effort.
- 80' Hercules Gomez of Puebla in Mexico replaces Onyewu.
- 79' The US preparing to put on another striker.
- 78' USA were without a defeat after the first two matches in 1930, 1994 and 2002 but they have work to do here.
- 77' Match Image Donovan of the US celebrates
- 76' Altidore cuts inside but the shot comes off the outside of his boot and goes out for a throw-in.
75' Jokic is the third member of the Slovenia back four to be booked for fouling Donovan from behind.- 74' A long throw bounces around dangerously in the penalty area and it appears Altidore is penalised for backing into the defender.
- 73' Zlatan Ljubijankic is replaxced by Nejc Pecnik.
- 72' Feilhaber steers Donovan's delivery towards goal but that is comfortable for Handanovic.
- 71' Another booking. Kirm sees yellow for a sliding foul on Donovan.
- 70' Slovenia have only had two shots on target.
- 69' Donovan's free-kick comes out to Altidore who unleashes a fierce shot on the turn but it is straight at Handanovic. Anywhere else than the middle of the goal and the US would have equalised.
- 68' Altidore is brought down by Suler on the edge of the penalty area and is shown the yellow card. He just runs into the back of the USA striker and the States wanted a red card.
- 67' il2843 - 'Slovenia will beat England if they play the way they have so far; and if England play the way they did against USA'
- 66' Optajoe: 'This is the 13th time the USA have conceded two or more goals in a World Cup game, losing 11 of the previous 12 games.'
- 65' Kirm's shot hits DeMerit - Slovenia looking lively again.
- 64' Feilhaber tries his luck from 20 yards but drags his effort wide.
- 63' Jokic's cross is intended for Novakovic in the penalty box but well claimed by Howard.
- 62' And from the resulting free-kick, Birsa's curler is punched away by Howard.
- 61' Radosavljevic's cross is handled by Edu.
- 60' Match Image Donovan is denied
- 59' Free-kick in a dangerous area on the right but Dempsey wrestles Kirm to the floor and is penalised.
- 58' Altidore gets behind Suler but the tall Slovenia central defender then recovers to make a crucial tackle on the edge of the penalty area.
- 57' USA are holding the 14th position on the most recent FIFA World ranking., Slovenia 25th but little to choose between the two.
- 56' Bad mistake as the US gift the ball away but Steve Cherundolo gets back to take the ball off Ljubijankic.
- 55' The game is wide open now. USA having reverted to 4-3-3 with Dempsey and Donovan supporting Altidore.
- 54' jocooke125 - "Go Slovenia...nice to see the underdog come through."
- 53' This time Birsa's delivery lets him down as he fails to pick out a team-mate in the box.
- 52' The corner is pulled back to Koren and he attempts to lift his cross into the penalty area but the ball runs out of play.
- 51' Howard punches Jokic's free-kick behind for a corner.
- 50' Onyewu is just inches away reaching a long free-kick at the back post but has strayed offside.
- 49' Suler needs treatment after a heavy fall following an aerial collision.
- 48' GOAL USA!! Donovan gets behind Cesar who commits himself far too early, he runs through on goal and smashes the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle. Game on!
- 47' Bright start from the US but Donovan's cross is cleared.
46' Double change for the States at the start of the second-half with Rangers' Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber replacing Torres and Findley.- - Today's Venn answer is that Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton share the World Cup clean sheet record with 10 each. Another Venn tomorrow
- - Of course England meet Algeria in tonight's big match in the group and we will have a live chat with former England defender Paul Parker after the game so post your questions to the Italia '90 stalwart. PAUL PARKER LIVE CHAT AT 10PM
- 45+2' HALF-TIME! US dumbstruck by those 45 minutes and Slovenia could be heading to the last 16.
- 45+1' Novakovic was also Slovenia’s WC qualification top scorer but turned creator there.
- 45' Two minutes of added time.
- 44' Match Image Slovenia celebrate
- 43' GOAL SLOVENIA!! USA were pressing for an equaliser but get caught square at the back as Novakovic cuts open the US defence with a simple through ball and Ljubijankic calmly slots past Howard.
- 42' Findley gets to the by-line but his pull back is beyond Carlos Bocanegra.
- 41' Findley finds Dempsey whose low centre looks destined to be tapped home from three yards by Donovan only for the LA Galaxy star to be denied by a superb clearance from Brecko.
- 40' Findley is booked from the resulting corner for handball - although it is incredibly harsh, the ball bouncing off his face and off his hand. And that stinker of a decision means Findley will not play against Algeria.
- 39' Bad touch by Suler is seized upon by Donovan but Findley fails to pick out either of his team-mates in the penalty area and the US have to settle for a corner.
- 38' Aleksandar Radosavljevic needs treatment after being clattered by DeMerit as he fairly won that header.
- 37' The corner is half-cleared and DeMerit's follow-up header from 18 yards is not too far away from the post.
- 36' Torres' curling effort is superbly struck but Handanovic stoops low to his left to push the effort away at the near post.
- 35' Great run from Altidore who beats two and is then tripped by Bostjan Cesar who is booked.
- 34' Of course the winners of this group could now end up playing Germany in the last 16 after their shock defeat earlier.
- 33' The US looking a bit predictable with this rigged 4-4-2.
- 32' Referee Coulibaly is making his World Cup debut. The Malian was active at the previous four editions of the African Cup of Nations. He was also in charge during the ACN final between Ghana and Egypt.
- 31' Onyewu looks to be leaning on Novakovic on the edge of the penalty area but no free-kick.
- 30' David Beckham is attending this match and he knows what it feels like to score a World Cup goal. Exclusive video
- 29' Birsa is a danger from set-pieces, but this time his free-kick strikes the back of a US player in a crowded penalty area and Howard hacks clear to prevent the corner.
- 28' A ball tossed into the penalty area towards Dempsey but penalised for a push.
- 27' Slovenia have won every international match in 2010.
- 26' Koren does well to get a cross in from the left but it drifts out of play.
- 25' A first corner for Slovenia but Bradley heads clear.
- 24' Optajose - USA have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 matches.
- 23' Surging run from Brecko but Donovan tracks all the way back into his own penalty area to deny him further progress.
- 22' Birsa's whipped free-kick at the pace runs all the way through to Howard. Andraz Kirm was close to making contact but was already ruled offside.
- 21' Donovan with a burst of pace that threatens to take him into the penalty area but Robert Koren makes a timely intervention.
- 20' No goal attempts by the US inside the opening 20 minutes.
- 19' The United States have won just one of their last six internationals against European opposition, a 2-1 win against Turkey at the end of May.
- 18' Long-range attempt by Bradley but rising all the time.
- 17' Miso Brecko's cross from the right is volleyed clear by Onyewu.
- 16' Donovan's free-kick is punched clear by the flying Samir Handanovic.
- 15' USA win a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left after Marko Suler fouls Altidore.
- 14' GOAL SLOVENIA!! A fabulous strike from Valter Birsa beats Tim Howard. The Auxerre midfielder picks the ball up 30 yards from goal and dispatches the ball into the corner with the Everton custodian rooted to his spot.
- 13' Decent injection of pace from Jozy Altidore but Dempsey is unable to take the pass in his stride.
- 12' Slovenia have met CONCACAF opposition once. They defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in a pre World Cup match in May 2006.
- 11' Slovenia have started brightly.
- 10' Torres is well off the pace, Donovan giving him a piece of his mind.
- 9' The last time the United States beat a European country outside the USA came on 24 June 2009, when they beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semifinals in Bloemfontein.
- 8' Valter Birsa's superbly inviting cross from the right is just a whisker away from being met by Novakovic who has nipped in ahead of Jay DeMerit.
- 7' Ljubijankic meets the free-kick from the left but his header is way over the top as Oguchi Onyewu challenges.
- 6' Jose Torres brings down Milivoje Novakovic and Slovenia will be able to put the ball intp the penalty area.
- 5' Landon Donovan's corner is only half-cleared at the near post but Bradley can't take advantage.
- 4' Michael Bradley feeds Robbie Findley down the left to win the first corner of the match.
- 3' Ljubijankic leaves the field, clutching the side of his head, but is fit to return.
- 2' Early controversy as the flailing arm of Clint Dempsey clatters into the side of Zlatan Ljubijankic's head and Slovenia are very angry with that challenge.
1' And we are underway!- 14:55 Referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali leads the teams out.
- 14:50 This game being played in Johannesburg whose population is greater that of the whole of Slovenia.
- 14:45 Slovenia can secure their first ever last 16 place at the World Cup if they defeat USA.
- 14:40 Slovenia have won seven of their last eight matches. In their last match against Algeria, Slovenia won their first-ever match at an international tournament.
- 14:35 The USA have kept just one clean sheet in 20 World Cup matches since keeping a shutout against England in 1950. Only once in 15 post-war World Cup meetings with sides from Europe have the USA found the net more than once in a game. The USA have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 international games.
- 14:30 This will be the first meeting between the two sides, although the three matches between Slovenia and teams from the CONCACAF zone have produced 13 goals.
- 14:25 US skipper Carlos Bocanegra admits that the prospect of an early exit weight heavy on their minds: "Obviously, a loss putting us out is something that's going to be in the back of our minds. We have to approach the game in an intelligent fashion, we need to be smart and not open ourselves up going for a win, just because a loss would put us out of the tournament." More here
- 14:20 The Slovenia boss has "no fear" of the US ahead of a clash that could settle qualification from the group. Video here.
- 14:15 US coach Bob Bradley has also made one change, bringing midfielder Jose Torres in for Ricardo Clark to play centrally with Michael Bradley.
- 14:10 One change by Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek after the scrappy 1-0 win over Algeria - striker Zlatan Ljubijankic is in for Zlatko Dedic.
- 14:05 Teams - Slovenia: 1-Samir Handanovic; 2-Miso Brecko, 4-Marko Suler, 5-Bostjan Cesar, 13-Bojan Jokic, 10-Valter Birsa, 8-Robert Koren, 18-Aleksandar Radosavljevic, 17-Andraz Kirm, 9-Zlatan Ljubijankic, 11-Milivoje Novakovic /// United States: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 10-Landon Donovan, 4-Michael Bradley, 16-Jose Torres, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy Altidore, 20-Robbie Findley.
- 14:00 Welcome to coverage of the World Cup Group C match between Slovenia and the US at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
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Summary
- 89' Radosavljevic's long-range drive is pushed away by Howard, diving to his left.
- 86' REAL CONTROVERSY! Donovan's free-kick is volleyed into the net by Edu but it is disallowed! Hard to see the foul as there were so many bodies in the area. Replays only indicate three US players being held by Slovenian defenders.
- 82' GOAL!! USA EQUALISE! A long ball is knocked down by Altidore and Bradley, who has bust a gut to catch up with the play from midfield, rifles into the roof of the net.
- 81' Bradley shoots on the turn but Handanovic gets down to his left to save the 25-yard effort.
- 69' Donovan's free-kick comes out to Altidore who unleashes a fierce shot on the turn but it is straight at Handanovic. Anywhere else than the middle of the goal and the US would have equalised.
- 48' GOAL USA!! Donovan gets behind Cesar who commits himself far too early, he runs through on goal and smashes the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle. Game on!
- 43' GOAL SLOVENIA!! USA were pressing for an equaliser but get caught square at the back as Novakovic cuts open the US defence with a simple through ball and Ljubijankic calmly slots past Howard.
- 41' Findley finds Dempsey whose low centre looks destined to be tapped home from three yards by Donovan only for the LA Galaxy star to be denied by a superb clearance from Brecko.
- 36' Torres' curling effort is superbly struck but Handanovic stoops low to his left to push the effort away at the near post.
- 8' Valter Birsa's superbly inviting cross from the right is just a whisker away from being met by Novakovic who has nipped in ahead of Jay DeMerit.
- 14:05 Teams - Slovenia: 1-Samir Handanovic; 2-Miso Brecko, 4-Marko Suler, 5-Bostjan Cesar, 13-Bojan Jokic, 10-Valter Birsa, 8-Robert Koren, 18-Aleksandar Radosavljevic, 17-Andraz Kirm, 9-Zlatan Ljubijankic, 11-Milivoje Novakovic /// United States: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 10-Landon Donovan, 4-Michael Bradley, 16-Jose Torres, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy Altidore, 20-Robbie Findley.
Team lineup & ratings
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Lineup
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- S. Handanovic
- M. Brecko
- M. Suler
- B. Cesar
- B. Jokic
- R. Koren
- A. Radosavljevic
- V. Birsa
- A. Kirm
- Z. Ljubijankic
- M. Novakovic
Subs
- M. Mavric
- Z. Dedic
87′ - B. Ilic
- D. Stevanovic
- A. Komac 90′
- J. Handanovic
- A. Šeliga
- S. Filekovic
- N. Pecnik 74′ 90′
- T. Matavz
- R. Krhin
- E. Džinic
Starting line-up
- T. Howard
- S. Cherundolo
- J. DeMerit
- O. Onyewu
- C. Bocanegra
- J. Torres
- M. Bradley
- L. Donovan
- C. Dempsey
- R. Findley
- J. Altidore
Subs
- M. Hahnemann
- D. Beasley
- J. Spector
- B. Feilhaber 45′
- J. Bornstein
- R. Clark
- H. Gomez 80′
- B. Guzan
- S. Holden
- C. Goodson
- M. Edu 45′
- E. Buddle
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Rate Players
Well, too bad. The referee was indeed blind. He did not see the USA foul in first few seconds of the game that should be a red card. And then it would not come to the third USA goal. And yes, the third goal was regular (sorry USA, but the referee decided). All in all, it was a great game. Not fair, but great!
BTW... Is there a count about heart attacks during watching the game?
Best regards from Slovenia.
good game sherman tanks, pity you was robbed by the ref
to be 2-0 down in the world cup and get a draw , the 3rd goal should have stood, is a good result for any team be it usa,chile or even brazil well done usa you know how to fight till the end
THE REFEREE SHOULD BE BANNED FOREVER...
Go USA ! Show how soccer is exciting, not over-paid @#$% from the English team and fans !
USA SHOULD ON THE GAME BUT THE REF MAYBE SLEEPING AND DONT SEE THE BALL... GO USA ....
USA SHOULD ON THE GAME BUT THE REF MAYBE SLEEPING AND DONT SEE THE BALL... GO USA ....
USA NEED MORE RESPECT they played with passion and deserve credit
I think USA have no problem to beat Algeria. Team USA is very well organized, good football. USA play better football than English...... most important of football is score goal, 2-2 is better than 0-0, England /Algeria match is pointless, even Greece / Nigeria match is much more better than England / Algeria....... USA fulled credit... very good game.....
Well done the yanks. just like youz to come good near the end.
Landon Donovan goal is brilliant & power, USA really know how to score goal and this is good for the team, unlike England, they just don't know how to score goal... USA need a win to advance, Slovenia need a draw to advance. England don't know how to score goal how to advance??????
Best game of the Cup so far... Should have ended 3-2 USA but the ref had his eyes half-closed the whole match. I really have no idea where the ref was looking when he made that awful call.
This is why England with all their overpaid, overrated, over-hyped talent is on the verge of getting booted out of another Cup early. Because the first 10-15 pages when USA was down 2-0 was nothing but hatemongering and ridicule and absolute certainty that the US were going to lose. BUT...the US isn't defeatist like England, and came roaring back with two (actually three!) of the most beautiful goals in this Cup so far! They played with amazing heart and courage, and didn't even whine after the match about the winning goal that was STOLEN from them by the most blundering fer in the tournament.
Sorry mates, but the US just played the most exciting game of the tournament and scored twice as many goals in a half than England has scored in the Cup. Frankly, I hope the US can beat a very tough Algerian side, and England can finally show some spark in beating a very tough Slovenian side...and we BOTH advance.
But all the anti-American sentiment here is evidence of a bunch of complete @#$%!
comment 307,, yeah someone is really thick YOU!! Slovenia beat Algeria
The last time the Yanks won one? That would be today, 3-2, someone tell me why not. How can the referee take away a goal and not even bother to tell you why? No wonder soccer is a third world sport!
England USA 1-1 !, Slovenia USA 2-2? this be a reallly fishy lately ( are they bein controlled?!) Methinks there be a rat in the soup! I cannae understand anymore the footy ! all bosses controllin the outcomes! aye No more bets from ME! grrrr
The US team will never have players as good as the English team, but at least they fight and give us something to cheer for. Our 2-2 draw was heart. The english draw was fear.
Can someone not count, how can slovenia have 4 points if they have drawn twice, look at the group c table people, someone is really thick.
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Man of the match
Landon Donovan - USA
The USA talisman brought his side back into the game with a goal and was always a threat.
World Cup Group Tables
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