World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: Tied in the 86th minute

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Michael Bradley’s goal with eight minutes left in regular time has lifted the U.S. into a 2-2 tie with Slovenia, keeping alive it hopes of advancing to the second round of the World Cup.

Bradley was trailing a play into the box when Jozy Altidore leaped to head a long pass from midfield. The ball didn’t go where Altidore had aimed it, but Bradley, unmarked behind the play, raced in to scoop it up and bat it home for the goal.

Altidore had a chance to tie the score for the U.S. in the 70th minute when he picked up a rebound off a Landon Donovan free kick, spun and fired on the net from about 16 yards. But Slovenian keeper Samir Handanvoic was right there for his second huge save of the day. Ten minutes later, midfielder Bradley had a shot of his own from about 25 yards, but the keeper came up big.
The game started getting physical at about that point as the U.S. became more desperate and the Slovenians, playing defensively for the first time, turned to a little roughhousing to slow the Americans down.

Both of Slovenia’s goals came in the first half, in the 13th minute off the boot of Valter Birsa and in the 42nd from Zlatan Ljubijankic. The U.S. score came from Donovan three minutes into the second half.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa