World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: U.S. pulls within 2-1

The U.S. came out playing with urgency in the second half, and that paid off immediately when Landon Donovan got the Americans on the board three minutes after intermission, making it 2-1 in favor of Slovenia.

Donovan took a long pass from midfield that got to him after a Slovenia defender made an attempt to stop it and failed. Donovan then settled the ball, dribbled into the goalkeeper's box and fired a short right-footer into the upper corner of the net on the far side.

The U.S. still has a ways to go, through. If Slovenia holds on to its lead, it will clinch a berth in the second round, leaving the U.S. to face a must-win situation in its group finale against Algeria while also needing Slovenia's help in its finale with England.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

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

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

World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: After 30 minutes, an aggressive Slovenia leads 1-0

Slovenia has been the more aggressive team through the first 30 minutes of its World Cup match with the United States, taking a 1-0 lead on Valter Birsa's goal in the 13th minute. And although the U.S. appears content to probe and test the Slovenia defense, almost like a boxer feeling out his opponent, Slovenia is attacking.

In the 21st minute, it nearly paid off again for Slovenia when Milivoje Novakovic raced into the goalkeeper's box unmarked on a long free kick. However, he was just a step too late as the ball sailed past the end line. That was a clear lucky break for the U.S. because the pass should have ended with a goal.

The U.S. trailed early in its opener with England too, falling behind in the fourth minute before rallying to earn a draw. The Americans really need to win this one, though, if they are to feel secure about moving on to the second round.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: Slovenia leads 1-0

The U.S. said it wouldn't overlook Slovenia but it sure looks like it isn't taking the team seriously in the opening minutes with Valter Birsa waiting just 13 minutes to give Slovenia a 1-0 lead.

His left-footed missile from just outside the box whistled pass U.S. keeper Tim Howard.

The U.S  had the first scoring chance in the sixth minute on a Landon Donovan corner kick but nothing came of it.

In the eighth minute the first chants of USA! USA! USA! began.

In the ninth minute a nice crossing pass by Brisa skipped past the U.S. goal when Milivoje Novakovic couldn't flag it down.

The game got off to a chippy start when, in the opening minute, U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey banged Slovenia's Zlatan Ljubijankic as both went up to head a ball. The Slovenian striker went down hard, holding his left check just below the eye. After being attended to briefly on the field, he walked off holding an ice pack to his face.

Ljubijankic quickly returned.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

U.S. vs. Slovenia -- World Cup pregame

The overwhemingly pro-U.S. crowd came dressed for a Halloween party with fans wearing an endless array of hats, scarves, pants, shirts and face paint in the design of the U.S. flag. There are also two people dressed as astronauts (carrying a sign reading "South Africa We Have Landed"), at least one Elvis impersonator and no small number of Mexican fans who have come out to cheer on their neighbors to the north.

Even FIFA President Sepp Blatter is at this match, though he is dressed more conservatively in a gray suit and tie. No doubt he is cheering for the U.S. too, however, since a long, successful run by the Americans will raise TV ratings in an important FIFA market.

The vuvuzelas are also out in force again, making it sound as if a giant and angry hoard of hornets is hovering about the stadium.

During the national anthem, each of the U.S. players placed his left hand on the shoulder of the nearest teammate and placed his right hand over his heart. This was true for the starters on the field and the substitutes hidden on the bench. Each the players pictured on the stadium scoreboard was singing the national anthem loudly.

There are once again pockets of empty seats around the stadium but some of that could be due to the heavy traffic and long security lines outside the stadium. Only a couple of the stadium's many luxury suites appear to be in use.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia lineups

It's a brisk but cloudless afternoon in Johannesburg, South Africa, where a heavily pro-U.S. crowd has turned out at Ellis Park Stadium -- the stadium featured in Clint Eastwood's movie "Invictus" -- for the Americans' second group-play match in this World Cup.

After battling England to a 1-1 tie, the U.S. can move a big step closer to the second round with a good result here against Slovenia. And the crowd will help: there are more American flags here than at a Fourth of July picnic.

U.S. Coach Bob Bradley made one change to his lineup for Friday's game with Slovenia, inserting Francisco Torres in the midfield in place of Ricardo Clark.

The lineups:

U.S.

GK --Tim Howard

D -- Carlos Bocanegro

MF -- Michael Bradley

D -- Oguichi Onyewu

D -- Steve Cherundolo

MF -- Clint Dempsey

MF -- Landon Donovan

D -- Jay DeMerit

MF -- Francisco Torres

F -- Jozy Altidore

F -- Robbie Findley

Slovenia

GK -- Samir Handanovic

D -- Miso Brecko

D -- Marko Suler

D -- Bostjan Cesar

MF -- Robert Koran

F -- Ziatan Ljubijankic

MF -- Valter Brisa

F -- Milivoje Novakovic

D -- Bojan Jokic

MF -- Andraz Kirm

MF -- Alexsandar Radosavljevic

World Cup: U.S.-England is a hit for ESPN, Univision

Whether you watched the U.S.-England World Cup soccer match in English on ESPN or in Spanish on Univision, a whole lot of you were watching.

ABC had 12.95 million viewers for Saturday's match, while Univision had 3.8 million viewers. The ESPN ratings made the match the fifth-most-watched soccer game in the U.S., and they were higher than the average number of viewers for the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. 

Univision actually beat ESPN in viewership for last Friday's opening game between Mexico and host South Africa. 

ESPN had 2.6 million tuned in; Univision had 5.4 million.

-- Diane Pucin

World Cup: Obama welcome in South Africa

President Barack Obama's popularity may have slipped some in the U.S. but not in South Africa.

When a group of reporters visited a market and museum in the sprawling Soweto township Monday, the first question many people asked was "Where are you from?"  When the reporters answered "America," they were greeted with smiles, handshakes and responses such as "Obama, yes we can!"

One museum docent continually referred to the group as "the Obamas." Although South African security personnel have talked openly about how they hope the U.S. team exits the tournament before the U.S. president has a chance to visit, that's not the view of the people in Soweto.

"Oh, he is very popular here," the museum worker said.

Meanwhile in another part of the township, Kenneth Nephawe, a traditional healer, said he has divined that the U.S. will advance out of pool play, although he wouldn't say how much further it would go.

"They have to change their midfield," he warned. "They're lazy."

-- Kevin Baxter in Soweto, South Africa

World Cup: U.S. vs. England: Opener ends in 1-1 tie

One of the more intriguing story lines coming into this summer’s World Cup centered on the enigmatic U.S. team. Would these Americans play like world-beaters, as they did in last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa when they beat top-ranked Spain to reach the tournament final?

Or would they flop, as they did in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when they gave up a goal five minutes into their first game and failed to get out of group play?

After the U.S. battled England to a 1-1 tie Saturday in its first game at this year’s World Cup, the jury is still out.

Although the U.S. never looked as sharp as it did last summer, it rarely looked as feeble as it did in the last World Cup.

The Americans did need some help getting on the scoreboard, however, their first goal of the tournament coming as a gift from England goalkeeper Robert Green, who wrote his name in his nation’s long soccer history by turning an easy save into a game-tying goal for Clint Dempsey in the 40^th minute, likely costing England the win and two points in the group standings.

That helped erase a slow start by the Americans, who didn’t make it five minutes into this World Cup before falling behind on a Steven Gerrard goal.

The play started with a throw-in in the fourth minute, with the ball finding its way to striker Emile Heskey in the six-yard box in installments. But once the English forward got it, he knew what to do with it, slipping a deft pass to Gerrard.

And Gerrard took it from there, slicing between a pair of U.S. defenders to tap home the goal with his right foot.

England had a chance to double its lead in the 20^th minute when Aaron Lennon got clear well behind the U.S. defense. But his pass from the right wing was broken up nicely by a sliding Steve Cherundolo.

That gave the U.S. a chance to even things just before the half on a monumental mistake by Green.

After making a series of nice moves to turn Gerrard around three times, Dempsey was free to take a left-footed shot from about 20 yards. But the ball headed straight at Green, bouncing twice as the English keeper slid over to make what appeared to be a routine save.

Instead the ball bounced off his hands, rolling slowly into the goal as a desperate Green attempted to crawl after it. That goal not only tied the game but it allowed Dempsey to join Brian McBride as the only U.S. players to score in two World Cups.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard, on the other hand, was clutch in goal, especially in the second half. Midway through the period he stuffed great scoring chances by Wayne Rooney, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Rooney again in a two-minute span.

And 10 minutes after the intermission Howard stepped in front of a Heskey rocket from just yards away to preserve the tie. All that came after Howard nearly left in the first half when Heskey slid into him cleats-first.

Howard remained on the ground, writhing in pain. But after taking a few minutes to gather himself, he remained in the game.

Inexplicably, neither of the giant scoreboards at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, just outside Sun City, was working Saturday, making it impossible for anyone in the crowd of 38,647 to keep up with the elapsed time of the game.

But it wasn’t hard keeping track of the score.

-- Kevin Baxter in Rustenburg, South Africa

Photo: Robert Green, right, fails to stop a goal by Clint Dempsey, second from right, during the World Cup group C soccer match between England and the United States at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa. Credit: Elise Amendola / Associated Press

For the record: An earlier version of this report identified England's Emile Heskey as Ernie Heskey.

World Cup: U.S. vs. England: 1-1 at the half

England and the U.S. have played a half in their World Cup opener and thanks to a gift from England's keeper Robert Green, the teams went into the locker room tied.

In the 40th minute, Clint Dempsey of the U.S. got off a left-footed shot that bounced twice on its way to the goal. Green slid over, went to his knees and appeared to be in position for an easy save. But he didn't wrap the ball up and itl bounced off his hands before rolling slowly into the goal.

Steven Gerrard had given England the lead in the fourth minute, closing a nice four-pass sequence following a throw-in by slicing through a pair of U.S. defenders before beating U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard with a right-footed tap. Emile Heskey made the final pass to set up Gerrard's score.

England had a chance to double its lead in the 20th minute when Aaron Lennon got clear well behind the U.S. defense. But his pass from the right wing into the goalie box was broken up nicely by Steve Cherundolo.

In fact, the English had several good first-half scoring chances and it was only the good work of Howard a couple of well-timed clears by his defenders that kept the game close.

The Americans' best chance came about a minute before Dempsey's goal when Landon Donovan dribbled across the front of the goal near the edge of the penalty area before letting go a right-footed rocket that hooked left of the goal.

The U.S. nearly lost its keeper late in the first half when Heskey slid into him cleats first trying to deflect home a rebound. Howard, who appeared to hurt his left arm, writhed on the ground in obvious pain for a couple of minutes before gathering himself and remaining in the game.

-- Kevin Baxter in Rustenburg, South Africa

Photo: England keeper Robert Green blows an easy save as the U.S. gets a gift goal. Credit: Michael Sohn / Associated Press

World Cup: U.S. tries a classic look in South Africa

The uniforms the U.S. will be wearing in their World Cup opener against England on Saturday might look a bit familiar to some of the oldest of the English fans. That's because the jerseys, with a sash running from the right shoulder to the left side, is modeled after the kits the U.S. wore when they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup, a result that still ranks as one of the greatest upsets in soccer history.

"The idea to celebrate the iconic sash from the shirt in 1950 came from the design team working on the U.S. national team kit," said Phil Dickinson, Nike's global creative director for soccer. "They wanted to marry the strong history of the U.S. national team with a sense of tradition. U.S. soccer reacted very positively to this proposal and we were able to develop it further from there."

But while the original 1950 uniforms were made from a heavy and uncomfortable wool-like material, the new Nike kits are made entirely from recycled polyester, with each jersey produced with yarn made from up to eight recycled plastic bottles.

Meaning Landon Donovan could be wearing that bottle of soda you brought last summer.

To make the U.S. kits, fabric suppliers diverted plastic bottles from landfills -- primarily in Japan and Taiwan -- then melted them down to produce yarn that was ultimately converted to fabric for the shirt. Nike, which made the kits for nine of the 32 World Cup teams, said that process reduced energy consumption by up to 30% compared to manufacturing virgin polyester. And if the recycled bottles used to make the shirts were laid end to end, that line would be longer than the coastline of South Africa.

"Having the opportunity to make the first 'considered-design' uniforms for Nike was a great moment for the whole of the team working on this project. From the designers to the development team, the materials experts," Dickinson said. "We believe we can build products that are more sustainable and that make a difference without compromising performance."

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa