It was the worst call since Jim Joyce robbed the Tigers' Armando Galarraga of a perfect game earlier this month.

Referee Koman Couilibaly of Mali disallowed Maurice Edu's goal in the 86th minute that would have given the U.S. a miraculous, come from behind victory over Slovenia this morning. Was Edu offside?

Many replay angles ruled out that possibility. Did he commit a foul? Couilbaly never told anyone what the call was.

Still the Americans must feel grateful to still be alive in the competition. As it turned out, their 2-2 draw today gives the Yanks a solid chance to advance to the final 16.

There was great hope on the East Side early this morning where the Nomad was jammed with football fans inside and outside of the tavern. A suds-drenched ESPN Deportes magazine laid on the outer bar promising "Analisis y prediccion para 32 selecciones."

One guy in a Slovenia jersey ran in front of the TV screens and struck a pose for the crowd. "Where's your country?" someone shouted. Few in the throng were confident they could pick out that nation on a globe, even if they were sober.

As game time approached, the din grew louder with chants of "U.S.A! U.S.A.!" An attractive young woman, sporting a stylish blouse and Capri pants, nervously held a Bloody Mary, looking for all the world like she had just stepped into an alien civilization. Almost everyone else wore either Team USA attire or T-shirts that featured sayings like "Sorry for partying." It was a festive morning indeed.

But when the game started, the air of optimism was quickly replaced with a sense of dread. Slovenia ran freely into space in the final third in the opening minutes and scored in the 13th minute to make it 1-0. Late in the half, the Americans had countless chances, some from point blank range but could not equalize.

In the final minutes, the U.S. committed too many men forward and Zlatan Ljubijankic scored on the counter dropping the Yanks into desperate straights, trailing, 2-0, at the interval.

Some of the Nomad faithful kept chanting "U.S.A!" at the start of the second half. A few people behind me, bent on forgetting this disaster-in-the-making, chanted "More P.B.R." to the same cadence.

American coach Bob Bradley had to be at least as loud as we were during his halftime chat and whatever he said worked. Landon Donovan ripped a blast through the top netting from an impossible angle in the 48th minute to make it 2-1. The U.S. was far more aggressive and created chance after chance. Michael Bradley drew the Yanks level with a deft finish off Josey Altidore's header of a Donovan free kick and there was pandemonium on the east side.

Edu appeared to give the U.S. the lead just before the 86th when he put home another Donovan free kick. But the euphoria was short-lived as Couilbaly wiped out the historic tally.

The change in U.S. fortunes from say about 10 AM CST to just after 3 this afternoon was monumental. England, the decided favorite in the group, was held to a 0-0 tie by Algeria. Incredibly, if group play ended today, Slovenia (4 points) and the U.S. (2 points with 3 goals) would advance while England (2 points with 1 goal) would be sent home to Britannia.

If the Americans can beat Algeria next Wednesday, they are a virtual lock to move on to the last 16.

The crowd at the Nomad dispersed, not unhappy with a draw but knowing full well Team USA deserved better.