Hard-luck Slovenia, with heads held high, exits World Cup after late US goal

Hard-luck Slovenia exits World Cup

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Amid the euphoric England cheering, there were groans and tears of disbelief from Slovenia fans who had seen their team’s chances of advancing at the World Cup ruined twice in an as many matches by late U.S. goals.

At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday, the disappointments came in quick succession for the smallest nation in the 32-team tournament.

Slovenia lost 1-0 to England to surrender top place in the group, but was still hopeful of securing a place in the round of 16 when that match ended. Minutes later, in another Group C match at Pretoria, Landon Donovan scored in injury time to give the U.S. a 1-0 win over Algeria.

That victory gave the Americans first place in Group C with five points, England second — also with five — and in an instant, Slovenia, population 2 million, was out.

It could have been so different.

Slovenia led the U.S. 2-0 at halftime in their second group match before the Americans rallied for a 2-2 draw. The Slovenes were 8 minutes or so from advancing when the Americans tied it.

Slovenia coach Matjak Kek said the late U.S. goal against Algeria, which Donovan called “hands down, the biggest moment in my career,” was disheartening for his team.

“You see, this is indescribable, but this is sport,” Kek said. “I am looking for reasons within me.

“Of course some people say I might be disappointed, but I am really proud that I have come with Slovenia so far.”

Slovenia, not as widely recognized as its Balkan neighbors Croatia and Serbia, is the third-smallest nation to make a World Cup. Northern Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago have fewer people.

Slovenia started the World Cup with a 1-0 win, it’s first at soccer’s showpiece tournament, helped by a bad mistake from Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi.

Then Valter Birsa’s strike in the 13th minute and Zlatan Ljubijankic’s goal on the counterattack in the 42nd gave Slovenia a seemingly comfortable cushion against the United States. But then Donovan scored for the Americans in the 48th minute and Michael Bradley equalized in the 82nd against a tiring defense.

That brought Slovenia to its final group game, and a draw would likely have gotten it through to the second round.

“I think Slovenia played a good game, but when you play to draw you play not how you usually play,” England coach Fabio Capello said.

Kek said he hoped the tournament would be a “very positive experience for us.” Initially, at least, his players were not in the same frame of mind.

“Our sportsmen should be left alone for a while, as they are feeling very hard moments,” he said.

That reflected the mood back home in Ljubljana.

There had been bursts of joy and people hugging amid a wave of national flags after Slovenia’s match against England ended — but only for a minute or so.

“We were two minutes away from a miracle,” Slavica Sancin, a 35-year-old tailor, said after Donovan’s goal.

Slovenia beat Russia in a playoff to reach the World Cup.

“This time, we had a chance to kick out Americans. Two superpowers,” Sancin said. “Our team did its best. Simply, we weren’t lucky.”