Can’t believe their tyin’ eyes: After draw against Slovenia, Americans need to beat Algeria

Americans can’t believe their tyin’ eyes

JOHANNESBURG — Landon Donovan ran after the referee, seeking an explanation.

None was given. None might ever be given.

Koman Coulibaly of Mali had disallowed what appeared to be a go-ahead goal by Maurice Edu in the 85th minute, one that would have capped a historic World Cup comeback by the United States against Slovenia.

U.S. players couldn’t believe their tyin’ eyes. No margin for error remains when the Americans play Algeria on Wednesday in their first-round finale.

“Now we have to win,” Donovan said. “Period. End of story.”

After falling behind 2-0 in the first half Thursday night, the United States rallied on goals by Donovan and Michael Bradley for a 2-2 tie against the tiny Alpine nation.

“My guess is there’s not many teams in this tournament that could have done what we did and arguably won the game. And that is what the American spirit is about,” Donovan said. “And I’m sure people back home are proud of that.”

But it could have been the greatest comeback win in American soccer history.

When Edu poked Donovan’s free kick past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, American players jumped around wildly.

“Pure excitement, Edu said.

Not so fast.

“Then I heard the whistle,” he added.

Over and over, American players asked, “Why?”

In English. Then in French.

“He just ignored us,” Donovan said. “Or he didn’t understand.”

Perhaps Coulibaly, working his first World Cup game, will never explain himself. By the rules, he doesn’t have to speak to the media on game days, and his next availability isn’t until Monday. Perhaps it will remain one of those unsolved soccer mysteries.

“I haven’t seen the replay, but I’ve had 43 text messages from people who did, and they didn’t see a foul, either,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. “We’ll ask, but they’re not required to tell us.’”

Slovenia (1-0-1) leads Group C with four points and would have qualified for the second round with a win. The U.S. and England (both 0-0-2) are tied for second with two points each following England’s 0-0 draw with Algeria (0-1-1).

The top two teams in the group advance, so the U.S. would make the second round with a victory against Algeria. The Americans also could advance if they tie the Algerians while England draws Slovenia, provided the U.S. maintains its advantage in goals scored over the English, currently 3-1.

“We can still get through,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “Being down 2-0 in a game, I’ve played long enough to feel very lucky and fortunate to come out of it still in the World Cup.”

It was the second time in a month that an official’s call had thwarted American sports history. Just a few weeks ago, umpire Jim Joyce’s decision cost Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Different sports, yes, but enormous consequences in both cases.

As has happened so often in the last 18 months, the U.S. fell behind early. In six of the final 10 qualifiers, the Americans gave up the first goals — they wound up 3-0-2 in those games.

And then they gave up Steven Gerrard’s fourth-minute goal in their World Cup opener, only to gain a 1-1 tie when Clint Dempsey scored in the 40th.

England was a huge favorite. This time, the U.S. was the favorite, the largest country in the tournament, with 300 million people, tying the smallest with 2 million.

“I’m a little gutted to be honest,” Donovan said. “I don’t know how they stole that last goal from us.”

As Donovan took a free kick from the side of the penalty area, players jostled in front. Aleksandar Radosavljevic held Michael Bradley in a bear hug, and Edu spun away from Bojan Jokic and, one step into the 6-yard box, stuck out his left foot and put the ball in.

The Americans could only speculate over the whistle.

“What I’ve heard is that there were three fouls in the box, and all of which were against Slovenia players,” coach Bob Bradley said.

“In the midst of the game with everything that’s going on, it’s rare that when a tough call is made that a referee at that moment will give you an answer,” he said.

Slovenia went ahead on goals by Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic. American players retreated to their locker room at halftime and talked of a need to regroup.

“We just said if we’re going to go down, we go down swinging,” defender Jay DeMerit said.

Benny Feilhaber and Edu entered for Jose Torres and forward Robbie Findley, who received his second yellow card of the tournament for a hand ball in the 40th and will be suspended for the Algeria game. Dempsey pushed up from midfield to forward.

Donovan started the comeback in the 48th minute when he ran onto Steve Cherundolo’s pass from midfield, came down the endline and shot from the 6-yard box, putting the ball over Handanovic and into the roof of the net.

Michael Bradley, the coach’s son, tied the score in the 82nd, when Jozy Altidore’s header off Donovan’s free kick fell in the middle of the penalty area. Running at full speed, Bradley caught up to it about 8 yards from goal, and with his right foot tapped it over Handanovic’s head.

“That’s Mikey. He was pretty energetic at halftime,” Howard said. “He wanted the talk … to stop and to put our money where our mouths are. He did a good job of being an example of that.”