Sorry for the blackout here's my quick gamer I did for the Daily News

Rescuing a draw or robbed of victory

U.S. team makes dramatic two-goal second half comeback

Forget about nepotism, yesterday United States midfielder Michael Bradley became a national hero, rescuing a draw in the dying minutes of his team's game with Slovenia with a stunning toe-poke home, 2-2.

For a team whose aspirations of moving onto the second round seemed to be dying with each passing second down 2-0 at halftime, the son of head coach Bob Bradley — one of the U.S.'s best players throughout qualification and over the past two years — came through with the most clutch goal of his life in the 82nd minute after Landon Donovan sent a free kick into Slovenia's penalty box, which Jozy Altidore headed down to Michael Bradley for the game-tier.

Donovan, in fact had given the U.S. real life to open the second half when a ball played over the top by Steve Cherundolo was misplayed by Slovenia defender Bostjan Cesar, who fell down on the play, allowing Donovan to go in on goal from the right-hand side of the box. Waiting for any support runs, Donovan took his time, then decided to go it alone, firing a shot from close range on a nearly impossible angle that nearly took off goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's head as the ball ripped into the back of the net.

"We all spoke about first of all believing that we could do it," Donovan said. "My guess is there aren't many teams in this tournament that could have done what we did, and arguably win the game. And that is what the American spirit is about, and I'm sure people back home are proud of that. That was the first thing that was said, and the second was that we need to score as early as we can. We knew if we did that we'd have a chance to get back in the game."

The realization of the second goal meant that for just the fourth time in the history of the U.S. (1-30-4) its men's national team had come from two goals down to get any points — and none was bigger than the point yesterday, which very much kept the team alive and even kept them in the hunt for first place in Group C.

However, the game was not without much controversy. In the 85th minute with the U.S. pressing on against the reeling Slovenia defense, Altidore earned a free kick on the right side of the box. Again Donovan stepped up to the ball and delivered a spot-on cross low to the middle of the six-yard box where second-half sub Maurice Edu latched onto the ball and volleyed it in for an apparent game-winner. Instead, the referee whistled for a foul call against the U.S. to nullify the strike. It was unclear whether the side-line official had lifted his flag for off-sides or whether the referee blew for a foul. What was seemed clear on the replay that there was no off-side U.S. player, and if any foul were to be called, it should have been on one of several Slovenian defenders, one of which had Bradley in a bear-hug.

"I've heard a few things," said coach Bradley after the match of apparent phantom foul. "Honestly, I think that on that set piece, most of what took place was that Slovenian players were holding our players. The one thing I've heard was that one player from Slovenia had his arms around Michael, Michael was trying to break loose from being held, and the foul was called. I don't know if that's accurate, but that's one version."

Truth be told, the U.S. were not without blame in this crucial second contest within Group C. Again for the eighth time in what has been an Achilles' heel for the U.S. in World Cup games throughout the history of the team, the red, white and blue allowed an early goal within the first 15 minutes of a match.

Exposing the center of defense — another real problem area for the U.S. in recent months — Valter Birsa received a ball 30 yards from goal, had time to turn, take a touch and then fire a beautiful left-footed screamer into Tim Howard's lower left side of net in the 13th minute. Left unmarked as the U.S. defense seemed clueless as to who was to pick up Birsa, both Bradley and Oguchi Onyewu failed to pick up the mark, and ultimately Onyewu provided more help to Slovenia than hindrance, as he provided a beautiful screen on Howard, who never saw the ball before it hit the back of his net.

"I just lost sight of it," Howard said.

Pushing forward, the U.S. nearly tied the score in the 41st minute, as some great combination play on the right led to Clint Dempsey passing an inviting ball by the Slovenia keeper to the far side of the box for the oncoming Donovan. Only a great play by defender Miso Brecko to knock the ball away prevented a goal. Then off to the races back the other way on the counter attack, made a run down the middle of the field Zlatan Ljubijankic, lost Onyewu as the U.S. defender ran out to make a challenge on the man with the ball, took the perfect pass and then walked in for the easy break-away goal to give Slovenia the 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

Ultimately though, a great response in the second half was enough to keep the U.S. hopes alive.

"I think this team has shown that it keeps fighting until the end, and we have now had the experience of pushing games when we're behind," coach Bradley said. "It's something we feel good about. It's a credit to the mentality of the players and to the fact that they're going to fight for 90 minutes every game."