World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: U.S. trails, 2-0, at halftime

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Zlatan Ljubijankic gave Slovenia a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute, finishing off a nice counterattack with a left-footed tap around U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard and leaving the Americans’ hopes of advancing to the second round of the World Cup likely relying on a big second half.

But don’t count on it. One and a half matches into the World Cup, the U.S. has one goal -- and that came as a gift from England keeper Robert Green, who let Clint Dempsey’s shot bounce off his hands and into the goal in the Americans’ opener.

Against Slovenia, the U.S. hasn’t shown much creativity, which is why the Americans went into halftime trailing after Valter Birsa’s goal in the 13th minute and Ljubijankic’s score 30 minutes later..

The best shot the U.S. has had in this one was a wicked left-footed free kick by Jose Torres in the 37th minute that Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic managed to slap down. Torres, starting in place of Ricardo Clark, sent the ball screaming toward the net from a difficult angle and almost managed to bend it into the goal.

A couple of minutes later, Landon Donovan stole the ball deep in the Slovenian end and passed to Robbie Findley, but his cross into the box was knocked away by the defense. On the ensuing corner kick, Findley appeared to have trouble tracking the ball, which bounced off his chest. And a minute after that,Slovenian defender Miso Brecko arrived just to time to get a toe in front of a nice pass to an unmarked Donovan, who was hovered near a wide-open net.

Slovenia then counterattacked, scoring its second goal.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa