Criminal!

Slovenia 2–2 USA

SVN — Valter Birsa (13')
SVN — Zlatan Ljubijankic (42')
USA — Landon Donovan (48')
USA — Michael Bradley (82')
**USA — Maurice Edu (86') **

We'll get to the goal that wasn't, but first a quick recap of everything leading up to it.

Entering the game with arguably higher expectations than for any World Cup game in their history, the United States neglected talking point #1: no early goals. To make matters worse, as they pressed for a first half equalizer, they gave up a second goal on a quick (and poorly defended) counterattack.

But, as we've seen time and again, this U.S. team is made of stronger stuff than any earlier version, and they came out in the second half looking to get back in the game. Landon Donovan's vicious strike from a narrow angle was perhaps the finest moment of confident, powerful football that U.S. soccer's longtime golden boy has ever produced. And while Slovenia rode out the Americans' subsequent momentum surge, the U.S. continued to look dangerous.

In the 82nd minute, Jozy Altidore, who was less than convincing in the preceding 81, finally made his mark. As AT&T keeps telling us, if you do it right, it only takes one second, and Altidore picked that particular second to use his muscle effectively — finally. His cushioned header off a long ball from the midfield found Michael Bradley streaking through the right of the box. The coach's son, somehow still battling charges of nepotism, will have finally have put those ignorant claims to rest, as he showed tremendous skill to keep the bouncing ball down. He may also have unlocked the key to taming the Jubulani: hit it with the underside of your boot.

And then the moment that the U.S. press will talk about for the next six days. There were no fewer than three fouls in the box before Maurice Edu coolly finished Landon Donovan's inch-perfect cross. But not one of those fouls was committed by an American player. Somehow, the Malian ref, who had demonstrated questionable judgment throughout, found a way to one-up his laughable yellow card on Robbie Findley. Only the referee knows who, but someone on the U.S. team was whistled for a foul. The goal was disallowed, and time ran off the clock.

What could have been the greatest comeback in U.S. soccer history (and one of the greatest in World Cup history), instead ended in a soul-sucking draw. With the game next week against Algeria now having even more massive consequences, the U.S. squad will have no time to mull over what-ifs. But if I'm any example, a nation of U.S. fans will do it for them. On the bright side, those were three of the finest goals I've ever witnessed a U.S. team score in a competitive match. The single-goal demons of four years ago have apparently been exorcised. Hopefully, that bodes well for next week's game, which may well come down to how high the U.S. can run up the score.

Unfortunately, I have to run to work, after which the wife and I hit the road for San Francisco — so I won't have a chance to post again today. (If anyone in SF wants to watch games tomorrow morning, give me a ring.)

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the game; please post some in the comments section.