Coming from a 2-0 deficit to the Slovenians, Team USA kicked their game into gear to tie Friday’s match in the 82nd minute – a tie that should have defined the almost miraculous comeback. Yet, it was not the determination of the team nor the strength of their second half play that defined this match, but the erroneous call by FIFA World Cup official Koman Coulibaly.
However, unlike MLB umpire Jim Joyce’s apologetic reaction after calling the runner safe at first base, costing Detroit Tiger’s pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game, Coulibaly has refused to comment or admit fault.
The controversial call came in the 85th minute when second half sub Maurice Edu scored what would have been the game-winner. Coulibaly blew his whistle for what he called a foul, however the official would not tell the U.S. players or coaches what the call was for.
FIFA also told the U.S. Soccer Federation that Coulibaly had no comment. Coulibaly, from Mali, has since been removed from the referee roster of the South African World Cup tournament’s next round.
According to DePaul men’s soccer coach Craig Blazer, Coulibaly is not required to comment nor explain his call.
“I’m disappointed by the call. You like to think that, in the course of 90 minutes, that those things even out. But at the same time, those things do happen,” Blazer said.
Closer inspection of replays reveals that no apparent foul was committed, nor was there an offsides call since the linesman did not raise his flag. If anything, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore were being bear hugged in the box, which would have resulted in a penalty kick. Bradley and Altidore were visibly upset after the call and final whistle.
“Being a referee is a difficult job and they want to make the correct decision, but opinion does come into play,” said Blazer, who said that as Team USA moves forward, they will gain more respect from the soccer community, including referees. “It’s difficult to see what he [Coulibaly] was thinking, but we did give up those two soft goals and should have played better.”
In a game that the U.S. should have won, the players came out with a weak start.
“Maybe we didn’t have the right mindset [going into the match],” Blazer said.
Down 2-0 at half, the U.S. drew within one of Slovenia in the 48th minute with a brilliant strike from Landon Donovan, who scored his 43rd international goal and third career World Cup goal.
The U.S. equalized in the 82nd minute when Bradley, the son of coach Bob Bradley, fired home after Donovan sent a long ball to forward Altidore, who headed it on to Bradley.
“I was impressed that they were able to come back and score the two goals in the second half,” said Blazer, who said the U.S. should still feel accomplished because they received one point in the standings. Although they are tied for with England in points, they lead by two goals.
The U.S. can advance automatically with a win over an Algerian squad who drew England 0-0 and lost 1-0 to Slovenia. Should the U.S. fail to win, they can advance with a tie, as long as England draws with less than two goals scored or loses to Slovenia. Both teams will play at the same time on Wednesday at 9 a.m. to avoid any potential match fixing.