Midfielder snatches 82nd min equaliser as USA rally from 0-2 down to steal draw with minnows

USA steal late draw with Slovenia

Midfielder snatches 82nd min equaliser as USA rally from 0-2 down to steal draw with minnows

Namastey Landon: Landon Donovan (right) of the United States and Slovenia's Bojan Jokic slug it out for possession during their Group C match at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. Pics/Getty Images

Slovenia were on course for the knock-out round having led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals by midfielder Valter Birsa and striker Zlatan Ljubijankic before the US fought back to force the equaliser and even had a third goal disallowed.

First right-wing Landon Donovan scored a superb goal on 48 minutes, then the equaliser came with eight minutes left as US striker Jozy Altidore flicked on a header deep in the penalty area and Bradley fired his shot home.

Bradman: Michael Bradley of the United States got his team a sensational equaliser in the 82nd minute yesterday

With time almost up, Malian referee Koman Coulibaly then disallowed a goal from a free-kick after a header by Maurice Edu which would have given the Americans a sensational victory.

The result left Slovenia on top of Group C with four points, two ahead of the US while England, with one point, play Algeria, yet to get off the mark, later last night in Cape Town.

The group concludes next Wednesday when Slovenia play England and the US face Algeria.Man-of-the-match Donovan said he was mystified by the decision to rule out Edu's late header.

"I am assuming it was a foul, it couldn't have been an off-side, we asked the referee many times, but he couldn't explain it," said Donovan.

"I don't know what to make of it, I didn't see a foul, I just saw a free-kick and a goal, but he had no answer."

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