Following the US’ come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Slovenia, Landon Donovan expressed his disappointment in referee Koman Coulibaly’s decision to call off Maurice Edu’s late goal.
“I’m a little gutted,” Donovan told ESPN. “I don’t know how they stole that third goal from us.”
Edu, a second-half substitute, was alone and onside when he knocked in Donovan’s freekick from the right side. But Coulibaly blew his whistle to call a foul, which replays indicated was phantom.
“I saw a good finish and a good goal,” Donovan continued. “I’m not sure what the call was. He wouldn’t tell us what the call was. I don’t know. It was the guy’s first World Cup, so maybe he got a little caught up in the moment. But you can’t take away a good goal from a team. In a World Cup that’s disappointing.”
Coach Bob Bradley echoed Donovan's confusion.
"Still don't know why the goal was disallowed," he told ESPN. "The players are just wondering what the call was."
But despite his disappointment, Donovan was stayed positive, especially with side’s effort.
“I’m proud of our guys,” he said. “I don’t know if there are many teams that would’ve responded that way.”
