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World Cup 2010: USA 2-2 Slovenia - Referee Analysis
Goal.com's Luis Bueno begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting analyzes the officiating in the United States' 2-2 draw against Slovenia.
Jun 18, 2010 1:21:00 PM
By Luis Bueno
Peter Prendergast, you sir are off the hook.
U.S. supporters now have another villain referee who they will forever feel robbed the Americans of something. Much like Prendergast handed Costa Rica a gift penalty kick in a World Cup qualifying match a decade ago that led to a 2-1 Tico victory, referee Koman Coulibaly influenced a U.S. match.
Coulibaly incredulously disallowed what could have been a game-winning goal for the Americans as Maurice Edu's late strike was called back for a foul.
What Went Right?
Coulibaly's officiating throughout the match was average, not allowing much room for criticism save for a few glaring calls. He did not seem to be harsher on one side than the other. The U.S. dug a 2-0 hole but the goals were not products of set pieces awarded to Slovenia on questionable calls. In fact, the officiating was spot on for Slovenia's second goal. Oguchi Onyewu allowed Zlatan Ljubijankic to stay onside and the Slovenian buried the ball into the back of the net moments later.
Also, Coulibaly could easily have given Clint Dempsey a yellow card some 20 seconds into the match as Dempsey went in for a challenge on a Ljubijankic but instead settled on just calling a foul on Dempsey and nothing more.
In the second half, Coulibaly handed out four yellow cards to Slovenia as the Europeans were a bit more physical and trying to throw the Americans off their game.
What Went Wrong?
Much like a defender can play a solid 89:55 minutes worth of football but lose his mark and allow a game-winning goal, so to can officials be judged harshly on one blown call. Coulibaly called back what could have been the match-winner as Edu latched onto a free kick by Landon Donovan and buried it into the back of the net.
However, a call apparently he only saw was the reason the Americans did not receive that goal. Numerous television replays failed to reveal a grab, hold, knockdown or other infraction. Edu seemed to slip past his defender without fouling him while other players near Edu - Bradley and Dempsey - were entangled with their defenders but not in anything that wasn't typical physical play in front of the goal.
Now, perhaps a different angle will come in. In the 1998 World Cup, American referee Esse Baharmast was under much scrutiny for calling a penalty kick late in a 1-1 match between Brazil and Norway. Not until a few days later was he exonerated when TV angle that was not immediately available showed a clear penalty as Junior Baiano grabbed Tore Andre Flo from behind. Perhaps a similar replay will appear showing a clear foul, but until that happens, Coulibaly will be public enemy number one to American supporters.
Coulibaly's other head-scratching decision was a yellow card he gave to Robbie Findley. Coulibaly deemed Findley to have played a ball with his hand inside the area late in the first half. Replays showed that a ball struck Findley in the face and may have glanced his hand. However, any such contact was incidental and should not have been called at all, let alone punished with a yellow card.
The call was costly because Findley must now sit out the United States' final group match against Algeria on suspension.
What Must Improve?
Perhaps it is the second slate of games that is causing a slip in the officiating. Germany-Serbia saw a slew of cards for what appeared to have been minor infractions, and Germany star Miroslav Klose was himself sent off for something seemingly minor. South Africa supporters will complain about a call given to Luis Suarez that resulted in a penalty kick and a red card on 'keeper Itumeleng Khune in a 3-0 loss to Uruguay on Wednesday; Suarez also could have been flagged for offside on the play.
Ultimately, though, the officials will continue to be scrutinized even under the best of circumstances. It just leaves a bitter taste among everyone when the officials leave themselves open for criticism with what seems to be blatantly blown calls.
The 2010 World Cup is finally here, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
U.S. supporters now have another villain referee who they will forever feel robbed the Americans of something. Much like Prendergast handed Costa Rica a gift penalty kick in a World Cup qualifying match a decade ago that led to a 2-1 Tico victory, referee Koman Coulibaly influenced a U.S. match.
Coulibaly incredulously disallowed what could have been a game-winning goal for the Americans as Maurice Edu's late strike was called back for a foul.
What Went Right?
Coulibaly's officiating throughout the match was average, not allowing much room for criticism save for a few glaring calls. He did not seem to be harsher on one side than the other. The U.S. dug a 2-0 hole but the goals were not products of set pieces awarded to Slovenia on questionable calls. In fact, the officiating was spot on for Slovenia's second goal. Oguchi Onyewu allowed Zlatan Ljubijankic to stay onside and the Slovenian buried the ball into the back of the net moments later.
Also, Coulibaly could easily have given Clint Dempsey a yellow card some 20 seconds into the match as Dempsey went in for a challenge on a Ljubijankic but instead settled on just calling a foul on Dempsey and nothing more.
In the second half, Coulibaly handed out four yellow cards to Slovenia as the Europeans were a bit more physical and trying to throw the Americans off their game.
What Went Wrong?
Much like a defender can play a solid 89:55 minutes worth of football but lose his mark and allow a game-winning goal, so to can officials be judged harshly on one blown call. Coulibaly called back what could have been the match-winner as Edu latched onto a free kick by Landon Donovan and buried it into the back of the net.
However, a call apparently he only saw was the reason the Americans did not receive that goal. Numerous television replays failed to reveal a grab, hold, knockdown or other infraction. Edu seemed to slip past his defender without fouling him while other players near Edu - Bradley and Dempsey - were entangled with their defenders but not in anything that wasn't typical physical play in front of the goal.
Now, perhaps a different angle will come in. In the 1998 World Cup, American referee Esse Baharmast was under much scrutiny for calling a penalty kick late in a 1-1 match between Brazil and Norway. Not until a few days later was he exonerated when TV angle that was not immediately available showed a clear penalty as Junior Baiano grabbed Tore Andre Flo from behind. Perhaps a similar replay will appear showing a clear foul, but until that happens, Coulibaly will be public enemy number one to American supporters.
Coulibaly's other head-scratching decision was a yellow card he gave to Robbie Findley. Coulibaly deemed Findley to have played a ball with his hand inside the area late in the first half. Replays showed that a ball struck Findley in the face and may have glanced his hand. However, any such contact was incidental and should not have been called at all, let alone punished with a yellow card.
The call was costly because Findley must now sit out the United States' final group match against Algeria on suspension.
What Must Improve?
Perhaps it is the second slate of games that is causing a slip in the officiating. Germany-Serbia saw a slew of cards for what appeared to have been minor infractions, and Germany star Miroslav Klose was himself sent off for something seemingly minor. South Africa supporters will complain about a call given to Luis Suarez that resulted in a penalty kick and a red card on 'keeper Itumeleng Khune in a 3-0 loss to Uruguay on Wednesday; Suarez also could have been flagged for offside on the play.
Ultimately, though, the officials will continue to be scrutinized even under the best of circumstances. It just leaves a bitter taste among everyone when the officials leave themselves open for criticism with what seems to be blatantly blown calls.
The 2010 World Cup is finally here, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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