Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley.

MICHAEL BRADLEY!

Or, at least, that should have been the story. The amazing late goal to cap the American comeback for a 2:2 draw versus Slovenia, keeping them alive in the World Cup... Oh, it was golden.

Here was the US, down two at the half -- the first on a 13th minute long blast by Valter Birsa, the second coming in the 42nd after Zlatan Ljubijankic beat the offside trap. It looked hopeless. A loss, and US's chances of advancement would be similar to those of winning the lottery.

But Bob Bradley made two changes at the half. He took off Jose Torres, whose lack of defense on the first goal was atrocious, and the ineffective Robbie Findley, for Benny Feilhaber and Maurice Edu. And three minutes into the half, the US got the break they needed, when the Slovenian left back fell down, leaving Landon Donovan all alone on the right flank. Donovan walked into the box along the endline and beat the Slovenian keeper, drilling the ball into the net from what seemed like an impossible angle.

But one goal was not enough. And this is when the name of Koman Coulibaly started to enter the lexicon. The overmatched Malian referee first blew a call when Jozy Altidore was taken down at the edge of the box. Then, when the ex-Metro had one man to beat and was hacked down, he did give out a free kick, but not the red card required in that situation. But the worst was yet to come.

Yet not until we saw the best -- which came in the 82nd minute. This is when Donovan's long ball found Altidore in the box, and Jozy hit it back to Michael Bradley -- ex-Metro to ex-Metro, and Michael...

Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley.

MICHAEL BRADLEY!

2:2. The US was alive. 2:2.

MICHAEL BRADLEY!

A point was salvaged. But it could have been three. For in the 86th minute, Altidore drew another free kick right outside the box. The ball went into the area, and a number of US players were held by Slovenians, including Bradley, who was draped in what should have been a penalty-inducing bear hug. Despite the holds, Edu flew out from nowhere to get his foot on the ball, sending it into the net... only for it to be waived off.

For what? Only God and Coulibaly knows. But we have no issues with God, at least not today. Coulibaly should never be allowed to referee again.

But we'll take a tie, knowing that a US win over Algeria will, at worst, get them into a goals-scored tiebreaker for a playoff spot. And we'll take Bradley's amazing moment -- he is now the second ex-Metro to score in a World Cup, joining Shaun Bartlett.

Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley, Michael Bradley.

MICHAEL BRADLEY!