Coming back from early deficits is nothing new for the U.S. national team. In fact, the Americans have made such a habit of battling back that if coming from behind were a martial art, Team USA would have a black belt.
For all its previous fights back though, perhaps none ever had the drama we saw on Friday. Trailing by two goals against one of the stingiest defenses in Europe, the United States breathed life into its fading World Cup hopes with a two-goal comeback that could have easily been a three-goal fight back if a potential game-winner hadn’t been waived off by a phantom foul call.
It was a thrilling and encouraging result, but the fact remains the Americans dug another early hole in a crucial match. Slow starts against England and Slovenia have resulted in a pair of impressive rallies, but they have also left the Americans with two points from two World Cup matches, with a must-win match awaiting on Wednesday against Algeria.
What’s interesting is that the United States went into halftime trailing by two goals in a match where it took the attacking initiative early on. Coach Bob Bradley revealed his attacking ambitions by giving young creative midfielder Jose Torres the chance to provide some attacking quality to the central midfield. Torres wasn’t up to the task though, looking nervous and unsure as he struggled badly for 45 minutes while his teammates had trouble picking up the slack.
Torres wasn’t alone in struggling in the first half. Whether it was Oguchi Onyewu being caught out of position a few times, Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra failing to keep tabs on the dangerous Valter Birsa, or Robbie Findley squandering some good passes from his teammates, the Americans were far shakier unit than the one that tied England.
By contrast, Slovenia was the picture of disciplined defensive organization in the first half, with an effective counterattack that torched the American defense on its only two shots on goal of the half. The United States had its chances, particularly after each of Slovenia’s goals, but couldn’t beat Samir Handanovic.
The two goal-deficit looked insurmountable, but Bob Bradley made some vital substitutions to help the team earn more possession and provide more service for Jozy Altidore and Donovan, who were both dominant in the second half.
Bradley deserves credit for identifying the team’s issues and making the necessary adjustments at halftime. He pushed Dempsey to forward and slid Feilhaber to the left flank, where he combined with Edu and Bradley to neutralize Slovenia’s counterattack. With Edu anchoring the middle, Bradley had the opportunity to push forward, where he eventually found the most important goal of his young career.
Donovan also deserves credit for stepping up his game in the second half and looking like the player widely regarded as the best field player in American soccer history. He raced at Handanovic with confidence, and blistered a shot from a sharp angle that took skill and fearlessness. When it hit the back of the net, the U.S. team was instantly energized.
The Americans should have earned the winner on Edu’s goal, but ultimately a tie was fair in a match that saw each team control a half. Now the United States finds itself heading into a final group match needing a win, just as it did in last year’s Confederations Cup.
Last summer, the Americans needed a 3-0 victory against Egypt, along with major help from Brazil, to reach the Confederations Cup semifinal. This time around, the math for the United States is simpler (but equally difficult) as it needs to beat Algeria on Wednesday. As much success as the United States has enjoyed in battling back from early deficits during this World Cup, it is tough to imagine the Americans letting a slow start burn them again. They know they have been fortunate to escape the early holes they have dug for themselves in recent days, and they have to realize that their luck will eventually run out, no matter how good they have been at fighting back in the past.
(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)