Mixed emotions following U.S. - Slovenia draw
Written by Jeff Lemieux on June 18, 2010 – 1:31 pm -I think it’s safe to say that just about every American soccer fan is dealing with a severe case of mixed emotions right now following today’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Slovenia, which at the very least means the final match in the group stage against Algeria will mean something.
If you had told me at halftime - when the U.S. trailed by two goals and looked destined for another disappointing exit from the World Cup - that they’d put together a spirited fightback and scratch and claw their way to a 2-2 draw, I’d have been more than thrilled. But as it stands, the 2-2 draw leaves me feeling a bit empty because of what transpired in the 86th minute.
Of course, I’m talking about the goal which wasn’t a goal. Just minutes after Michael Bradley had dramatically leveled the score at two goals apiece - the equalizer coming after Landon Donovan’s stunning 48th-minute strike cut the deficit in half - the Americans appeared to have grabbed a late, late winner when Maurice Edu poked home Donovan’s free kick. But alas, the whistle blew to wave the goal off, with referee Koman Coulibaly the only man in the stadium who knows exactly what happened. The offside flag never went up, so it was clear that Coulibaly whistled the play dead for a foul, but replays seemed to show only Slovenian players fouling American players, and not the other way around. Play-by-play man Ian Darke - who was critical of Coulibaly throughout the game - went so far as to say that had the U.S. not scored on the play, they should’ve been awarded a penalty kick.
At the final whistle many American players had to be restrained from approaching the referee, although Donovan tried to have a word. In the postgame press conference, Donovan claimed that Coulibaly “wouldn’t or couldn’t” explain the call. Whether that had to do with a language barrier or whether the ref simply didn’t know what call he had made remains a mystery.
It’s incredibly unfortunate that the call seems to have impacted the final result in such a major way, but what’s really a disaster is that the phantom foul will now be the main talking point in what was an incredibly entertaining match. Slovenia used a perfect approach in the first half and ran out to a two-goal lead, but as expected the Europeans attempted primarily to protect their lead in the second half and the Americans made them pay with two fantastic goals. Considering the amount of flukey goals we’ve seen in this tournament - goalkeeper gaffes, own goals, deflections - it was a very welcome sight to see some well-worked goals, and it would have to be said that all four strikes at Ellis Park were worthy of praise.
The fightback also glosses over the poor start from the U.S., something which they’ve had issues with not only in this World Cup, but in recent years. If the Americans get off to another poor start against Algeria, I’m not quite so confident they can erase an early deficit for the third straight time. Does it give U.S. soccer fans confidence to know that their team has the resolve to come back? Absolutely. But you can only push your luck so many times before you run out of answers. It seems all too obvious to say, but a better start against the Algerians is absolutely vital.
With that said, I’m overjoyed that at the very least, Wednesday’s Group C finales will both mean something. Now we wait for the outcome of the England - Algeria game this afternoon, a match which will ultimately decide what the U.S. needs to unfold on Wednesday in order to advance. It would certainly appear as if a draw between those two sides would be ideal for the U.S., although an Algeria victory would help more than an England triumph if a winner is to be determined.
How do you feel about the 2-2 draw between the U.S. and Slovenia?
Posted in World Cup 2010 |
June 18th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
It was a glorious comeback for the US, but it was definitely overshadowed by the calls that were made. What bugged me about it was that no one could seem to explain to anyone what the call actually was at the time of the whistle or after the game. that’s just not right at all
June 18th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I agree, Jeff. All four goals (five, really) were well-won and will unfortunately be forgotten because of the rotten officiating, which started with the pointless yellow card on Robbie Findley and ending with the disallowed Maurice Edu goal. It’s unreal how awful the officiating was in that match. Watching SportsCenter after the match, it was mentioned that every commentator in every language saw it as a goal.
If you look at the replay, Edu clearly and cleanly beats his marker and scores the goal; Bocanegra is fouled (penalty appeal #1); Bradley is being held, another foul (penalty appeal #2); Altidore is being held, yet another foul (penalty appeal #3). No one was offside and no US player committed a foul. Goal. 3-2. US wins.
That being said, the US really need to come out of the gate strong both offensively and defensively and get an early goal against Algeria.
June 18th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I wonder if this will actually be good for US Soccer and the popularity of the World Cup in this country in the short term. The draw makes the final group game even more important, and the referee controversy gives us reason to complain.
June 18th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
As infuriated as I was at the officiating in the US match, at least no American was sent off with a totally ridiculous red card! The Germans have a real case for having the worst reffing of the day. Now that England and Algeria have a scoreless tie, the next round of games will take care of what’s left of my fingernails!
June 18th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Regardless of the result today, USA controls their own destiny, which is what you hope for going into the 3rd game of group play. Win and we’re in. Also, the way that Group D is shaping up (or not shaping up), the tournament is getting really interesting!
June 18th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Hey guys
I followed every little second of that match and supported that good US-team. The Swiss comentators were also unable to see any reason why Edu’s goal was disallowed. If you take a look at what was going on in the box, than you can’t see any foul or offside from an US-player. It doesn’t matter which angle you take, everything’s okay. And like Nick said, there were at least three good reason for a penalty for the USMNT.
Although the referee was worse than a disaster, I think we should all give credit to that great reaction of the USMNT in the second half. A lot of European experts were amazed by the performance of them; maybe except Onyewu’s mistake that caused the second Slowenian goal.
I’m sure that the US-team will win their last match against Algeria. I still believe that they can get very far in this year’s tournament, like a lot of other Swiss people think. Yeah, we don’t just believe in our National Team, we believe in other teams which topped Spain as well too:).
Best wishes from Switzerland
June 21st, 2010 at 10:35 am
With plays now monitored by a dozen different camera angles, it is inevitable that some sort of in-game appeal/review will come about in FIFA and in professional soccer. I’m convinced that this can be done with a minimum of delay.
There is too much at stake in a game in which the result hangs in the balance of a small number of goals. How many important games decided by bad refereeing will it take to bring league officials around to this idea? Perhaps it will be fan outrage; a serious erosion of fan support will occur if the outcome of important games is left to the mercy of mistaken, inefficient, inattentive, or inadequate officiating. Fabio’s handballs in the Ivory Coast match show againg that the problem demands redress.
Why doesn’t the MLS take the initiative on this issue? Someone, or some league, will have to lead the way, in order to show that the “beautiful game” will not be compromised, that the sun will rise again tomorrow, if a ref’s bad call at a critical time can be reversed.
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:02 am
well, botton like is the ref is human. we all make mistakes.
does anyone of you watch other sports? fake fouls are called all the time, or even, not called.
hey, he is human.
just the other day i was watching Brazil and cote de voire or whatever. there were 2 hand ball that were never called and they ended up been scores.
maybe the ref saw or did not see something.
I mean, comeon, after seeing all the fouls against the C’s, i know refs make mistakes. just happen we were all watching.