Posted by Matthew Switalski

Dateline Johannesburg, South Africa:

We wuz robbed.

Last night I had the privilege of being in Ellis Park, for the greatest soccer match I've ever attended. Sam's Army was there in full force. Elvis was in the building. So was the Statue of Liberty. America owned that stadium. I've been here since the 11th, and the US is the most popular team here with the natives after Bafana Bafana. We had played England to a draw on the pitch, and more impressively, in the terraces. But this was a home game for us and we were ready to put Slovenia to the sword.

Unfortunately, the Slovenes refused to play their assigned role. We have had trouble with the likes of Poland, the Czechs, the Slovaks. Now these characters. A typical slavic outfit. Tactically astute, technically sound, strong in the air and the tackle, and keen apostles of Mourinhoism, i.e., feigning injury, cheating and time wasting. Utterly shameless. But first was the skill. Many were calling for Ricardo Clark to get the hook, and Jose Torres to be put into central midfield. Well, not so good. Twice, Slovenia clinically exploited the lack of a shield to go up 2-0, the second being a sucker punch before halftime and against the run of play. On the first, there was no understanding between Bradley and Torres, giving the shooter all the time and space in the world. And Howard was too far off his line. On the second, Bradley was out of the play, and Torres challenged meekly, while Onyewu could have saved matters by stepping up to play the runner offside. Instead, Gooch planted, the runner was onside, and Howard failed to make the save -- I think the ribs are bothering him. At the halftime whistle, I wondered how this could be happening. With the greatest crowd we've ever had, with everything poised for a major statement, were we really going to lay down?

No, we weren't. In the 46th minute, Landon Donovan came up big. The goal was right in front of us, as we were in the US section, inside the 10 yard area. Donovan dribbled toward the goal, slowly. I took my eye off him to see who would make the run; surely, he was going to pass. The angle was impossibly acute for him to attempt a shot. It seemed like it was in slow motion, as he got closer and closer.......and then he almost decapitated the goalie with a finish into the roof of the net. I don't know what it was like on TV at home, but we went crazy. The crowd was hysterical. And then the long wait for an equalizer. You felt it had to come, but we were getting discouraged. Bob Bradley had acted decisively at halftime. Dempsey up front, Torres and Findlay off, Feilhaber and Maurice Edu in. Edu was making a major difference, a superior athlete. We were winning balls, Edu was staying home, freeing Bradley to do his box to box routine. Yet the Slovenes were cagey, and shameless with their time wasting, with a Ref unable or unwilling to police their tactics. Finally, it came. The knockdown from Altidore, the distracting run by Gomez to pull the center half out of position, and a great finish from Bradley. Bedlam.

But we wanted the win. A blatant trip on Altidore for a free kick. Should have been a second yellow and a dismissal. Donovan placed it perfectly and Edu crashed it in for the victory, right in front of us. Our crowd was going nuts. But I never stopped watching the box, and saw the Malian was up to no good. Koman Coulibaly is a financial inspector by day. Here, his books were not in good order. We've all seen the replays. It was a rugby match, with at least 3 Slovenes holding US players in bear hugs.

And that went on all game, every free kick or corner. You see it all the time and I resigned myself to the fact that the only way to stop it is to put 2 more linesman on each byline to call the penalties. Surely it's too much to ask of one referee? Actually, no, it's not. Today I had the pleasure of watching Roberto Rosetti of Italy handle the Ghana v Australia match in Rustenburg. An absorbing encounter, and a fabulous crowd, full marks to the Ghanians and the Aussies. But I was in the 3rd row in the corner where Australia attacked the first half. There were several corners and free kicks during the game at my end. Most of the free kicks were in the area where Donovan had to take his last night. You probably don't see it on TV, but let me tell you what Rosetti does. He makes the call; then he marches off the 10 yards. Then he takes his position near the scrum, and gets all their attention by making the safe sign with his arms while he yells "hands off". He blows the whistle, and he doesn't even look at the ball. He concentrates on the area. And guess what? There's no wrestling, no bear hugs, no shirt pulling, no nothing. Just clean runs and defending. Cus they know he's watching and they know he has the cajones to call a penalty. There was no arguing and no time wasting all game. He had complete control and respect and it was a good match as a result. So, it can be done.

As for the tie, you can't always get what you want. But I think we got what we needed. Full credit must go to Bob Bradley. The lineup changes backfired. So what? What matters is, he adjusted, acting decisively to correct the problems. And we have a wonderful spirit in our team. You only have to watch the rabble that was England against Algeria to see players who cannot function together. That never happens with us. We're not the most talented side, but we are a team, a unit. And our support has come of age. That was an awesome performance by our supporters and I was honored to be there amongst them. Believe me, it wasn't easy for me to get here, and I know I'm no exception. But our fans gave everything they had last night, and it made a difference.

I've been to Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Highbury and Parkhead. I toured the Bernabeu on the way here. I know it's a rugby ground, but Ellis Park was the best soccer ground I've ever been to, and that was the most electric atmosphere I've ever been a part of. We sit 2nd in the group. Two 0-0 ties in the remaining matches and we are through. But you should have to win to get through your group. We need to beat Algeria. I'll finally be stateside, but with my brothers and sisters in arms still here from Sam's Army, I'm confident Bradley's Boys will get the result.

What a night. What a game. What a country.

Matt Switalski