IRENE, South Africa (AP) – The United States is moving on, ready to forget about the disallowed goal that cost the Americans a win in their 2-2 draw with Slovenia at the World Cup.
Referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali called off an apparent goal by Maurice Edu from Landon Donovan’s free kick in the 85th minute Friday after the Americans had rallied from a two-goal deficit.
Players asked Coulibaly repeatedly why he whistled off the goal. Speculation has ranged from a possible foul on United States captain Carlos Bocanegra, who had an arm around Nejc Pecnik, and one on Clint Dempsey, who pushed Andraz Kirm.
Looking at the replay, more Slovenes were holding Americans than vice versa. Aleksandar Radosavljevic held Michael Bradley in a hug.
“I think it’s a good goal, first. I think the only things really that could be called would be penalty kicks for us,” United States coach Bob Bradley said. “There are times when a referee, for whatever reason, blows a foul and now thinks either he didn’t make the correct call on the foul or from a previous play, and then literally as soon as the free kick’s taken, he blows his whistle, OK?
“So you can speculate all you want about which guy and everything, I think it’s a waste of time. All right? I think there was nothing there. I think it’s a good goal. And that’s that.”
The American team has been besieged with questions why football referees don’t publicly explain controversial decisions, as umpires and referees do in the United States.
“We’re all accustomed to the fact that if it’s an NFL playoff game and there’s a call that’s in question, there will be a statement by the league from the referees, but FIFA operates differently,” Bradley said. “There are some aspects of it that are not made 100 percent clear. That seems to add to the discussion about the game. So from our end we get used to that. And we all have friends and family who ask us the same questions that most of you ask, and you end up saying that’s just how it is sometimes, and then you move on and you get ready for the next game.”
The United States would advance from the group phase if it beats Algeria on Wednesday or even with a draw as long as England loses to Slovenia. If the United States and England both draw, the Americans would advance if they maintain their goal advantage over the English, currently 3-1.
It could also come down to the drawing of lots.
“I don’t think anyone really wants that, to be honest,” United States defender Jay DeMerit said. “I think as players and as a team and for fans, it should never really come down to things like that, but unfortunately that’s the rules we live by. There’s still a lot of soccer to be played between all four teams. And like I said, it will be very interesting to find out how the chips fall. And now we just have to make sure that we take care of things of our end and hope that it doesn’t come to something like that.”