Captain America scoring.
[Photo: Getty Images via Telegraph]
The Americans got robbed; yes we know it, and we know that this is particularly new for them since the sport's popularity is increasing by the minute but this things happen on a daily basis and unless technology - in some sort of form - is applied we will have an endless repetition of these situations in every football tournament in the world. We, who watch it on a weekly basis, have witnessed robberies of the size of countries. There is absolutely no need for recounting them and I'm sure you'll have your private collection of amazingly stupid decisions by either local refereeing or FIFA.
With this I'm not contributing to the idiocy of defending with any argument the referee and also to the fact that we know what happens when we do this kind of unkindly apologetic gestures. What strikes me the most is the amount of media coverage - particularly in the blogs - this incident has had. Obviously one expects this problems at the local league and certainly no in a stage of the most important world sport event.
Probably this is another futile rambling of my very own stash of lunatic responses against American football media. Nevertheless the Americans will have Algeria at Pretoria on the 23rd. That match will prove decisive since any mistake made by the Englishmen later today will open a Pandora box as in many other scenarios in the distinct groups that conform this messy tricky yet exciting World Cup. Brooks Peck at Dirty tackle provides two decisive responses from the happening: the first, an immediate one; the second, a response. The well-learned blogger left aside his nonsensical humour for a moment to complain.
Another view of the late scorer.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]
Obviously the first parts of the match were among this inevitable dull and shallow beginning where the Americans looked quite dazzled as in their previous game with Gerrard's lead. Efforts from the Slovenian right-backs helped to put a dominance in the early minutes. This offered a pretty solid chance for Birsa to strike as the childish American defenders looked at the way he stroke the ball. Howard could not help but watch the astonishing effort in the 14th minute.
Despite the efforts from the Americans to edge closer to Handanovic's goal the proportion was nearly three arrivals to one, favouring the Europeans. Torres' effort in the 37th, a delightful freekick from the right edge of the box, was kept at bay by the Slovenian keeper. Brecko stole a precious little chance from Donovan as the Americans edged closer but it was the handy job of the Slovenian midfielders that snatched the ball; Novakovic got the touch and beat the offside trap to release Ljubijankic; the striker slotted the lead past Howard.
With the healthy lead Kek's men relaxed a little to much when facing their opposition. Landon Donovan secured a chance on the right side as he strolled past one defender who missed the clearance to beat Handanovic with a fierce strike. Three minutes into the match and the Americans were back in the game after the nightmarish start. Whether the flak the Europeans were receiving was not good enough for the equaliser, Altidore made some attempts which again Handanovic saved sternly.
If the match appeared to be brusque or sloppy in the very beginning, the crucial moment was coming in the final stage. It was again Captain America Michael Bradley who left it late with equaliser to give a thin ray of hope. The American special of the house, a quick counter attack followed by a late goal, was administered when a long ball came in for Altidore to flick it; the rest is history as Bradley slotted it and squared things up.
In the final moments, 85th to be more precise, the nightmarish previously mentioned occasion showed as the linesman disallowed the legitimate goal by Edu. Bradley's complains were completely spot on as what appeared to be was probably a penalty kick on at least two American players. Novakovic and Radosavljevic provided final chances by the prowling Europeans, nonetheleess time was up and the points were shared.
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