Leander Schaerlaeckens: Take care.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're off to our respective assignments.

Chris Jones: Thanks everybody for following the game here tonight. See you next time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Well, everybody, that was a really good result for the U.S., I reckon. Thanks ever so much for reading along with us.

Chris Jones: English crowd has cleared out very quickly; Americans are lingering. Shows how different a tie can look depending on which side you're on.

Luke Cyphers: JLP comment of the match! Love me some Dickens.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: U-S-A! U-S-A! as per the crowd.

Chris Jones: Absolutely, Leander.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Very, very well deserved.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Man of the Match: Tim Howard!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Time for a lap of honor for the U.S.!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That puts the U.S. in a good spot for its chances to advance.

Luke Cyphers: And yes, Doug McIntyre and I did predict this on ESPN Insider. Subscribe Today!!!

Brent Latham: That's what you call a point of gold.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Considering the English dominance, the U.S. did really very well to hold out for a draw.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Great result for the U.S.!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GAME OVER!!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: About 30 seconds left.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It rolls to Howard, who wastes more time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Throw-in U.S.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 1 minute left.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A hail mary pass by Cole rolls to Howard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A hail mary shot by Dempsey goes wide.

ESPN Stats and Info: Neither match resulted in a loss

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Two minutes of four gone.

Chris Jones: Howard could have planted a garden in the time it took him to kick that ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Offsides for England. Some valuable breathing room here for the U.S.

ESPN Stats and Info: England have allowed two 90th minute (or stoppage time) goals in World Cup play. Romania 1998 and in Sweeden 2006.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England in possession.

Chris Jones: British newspaper headlines.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu beats Crouch to a header.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Bob Bradley is getting animated at the linesman about a throw-in call.

Chris Jones: Robert Green... Tomorrow will be a very bad day for you, I'm afraid.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu's run just misses the ball on the corner.

ESPN Stats and Info: The USA could potentially have their worst World Cup passing accuracy ever. They are currently at 66.6 and their worst is 66.44% on 6-10-2002 in 1-1 draw with Korea Rep.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 90 minutes are up now. We'll have 4 minutes of additional time.

JemeleHill: David Beckham making faces again...

Luke Cyphers: Great possession by Donovan and Bradley leads to the corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Holden on the right gets a cross in but it bounces off Cole for a U.S. corner.

Luke Cyphers: Really could use a scoreboard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 90th minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 89th minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That Jabulani sure does fly off the foot easily.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A long shot by Donovan sails over.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. in promising possession.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England is now being booed for holding onto the ball in the back.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 88th minute. I think the U.S. should be really happy, should they hold on to a point.

Brent Latham: American midfield passing has been subpar for about half an hour

Chris Jones: Hopefully you're doing physical labor, Gonzo.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu is fighting mightly out there. Keeping it away from Crouch. He's not played 90 minutes in a very, very long time. But it doesn't show tonight.

Luke Cyphers: And Donovan's moved up, almost into a 4-3-3.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Howard understandably takes his sweet time on a goal kick.

Luke Cyphers: Dempsey's moving to forward, though a bit withdrawn.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 87th minute just started.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not a bad call I reckon.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's Altidore off for Holden. Making Buddle the lone striker and the target man.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Competing chants fill the crisp air.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dear life and a point.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. is holding on for dear life.

Chris Jones: It would be 74 percent embarrassing, James.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A fat English chance ends with Lampard sliding it harmlessly into Howard's hands.

Luke Cyphers: Holden coming in...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: All the Americans but the strikers are now deep in their own half.

JemeleHill: That looked more like a light tap, Leander

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're 82 minutes in. And this game is still anybody's to win.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. is again knocking on England's door.

ESPN Stats and Info: In his 20 appearances as a sub for England Crouch has four goals. He's scored 17 in his 18 starts by comparison.

JemeleHill: You know, it almost looks like Green stole the Hamburger Helper's gloves. Back to the game...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney gets out on the left and finds the head of the impossibly tall (for soccer anyway) Crouch. His header is harmless.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: U-S-A shouts one half of the stadium.

Jeff Carlisle: Heskey's finishing was poor, but his hold-up play added a lot to England's attack.

Luke Cyphers: Holden looks to be coming on.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Here comes Peter Croush. On for Emile Heskey.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Reconnects with Donovan on a good ball but it skipps off Donovan's shoe.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan breaks out. Connects with Altidore.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cleared by Bradley.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner to England.

JemeleHill: As Ron Burgandy would say, Tim Howard is a a man, the kind who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. He has really been tremendous.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 77th minute now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Buddle on for Findley.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard goes on a long run on the right and eventually finds the room to cross. Heskey heads it over.

Luke Cyphers: They've sent Rooney out wide to the left.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Edson Buddle looks ready to come on.

Chris Jones: Howard really has been very solid.

Luke Cyphers: Rooney is really in the game now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney twice tries to stick the corner into the nets but is blocked both times.

Luke Cyphers: Tim Howard is a good goalkeeper.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Wright-Phillips was set up well on the left by Rooney but his finish is parried by Howard.

ESPN Stats and Info: Rooney now has two touches inside the box this half and total for the match. In EPL 2009-2010 he averaged four per half

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney just wide!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Attendance: 38,646

Luke Cyphers: Buddle looks to be coming on

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Payback is a ...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yellow for Findley for shoveling Gerrard under the sods.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Johnson just torched Bocanegra but his cross found nobody.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Soccernet UK editor John Brewin, sitting to my left, just pointed out "what the queen's got to do with it I don't know."

JemeleHill: If the US manages to pull out a win, it's going to be God Please Save Robert Green

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The English are now belting out God Save the Queen in unison.

Chris Jones: God Save the Queen rises up from the crowd.

Chris Jones: Try harder.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard gets a long cross into a wide-open Rooney, who can't quite get to it.

Chris Jones: Well, one did, Luke.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Americans are shrinking into their own half.

Luke Cyphers: And in the 70th minute, the scoreboard is turned on!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 71st minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: All sorts of danger outside of the American box now.

Chris Jones: Cool, but not cold. 57 degrees at start, but colder now.

ESPN Stats and Info: Landon Donvovan has created four goal scoring chances this game, tied for second for anyone thus far in the World Cup behind Messi (6)

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Bradley weaves past a man and then sends a poor ball out of bounds.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Readers, just as a warning, if our dispatches start to get thinner in volume, it's only because fingers are starting to get cold and stiff.

Luke Cyphers: A loooooooong free kick indeed. Jabulani!!!!

Chris Jones: Correction -- six players are. Didn't see them so far off the field.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Airmailed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: LOng free kick for Lampard.

Chris Jones: Not at the moment, Matt.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The pace and intensity of this game are still inreal. And keep in mind that we're at considerable altitude.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A new jersey for Johnson, as his short must have gotten bloody.

Luke Cyphers: People bashing Clark, but he's doing a lot of man-marking on Rooney.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 65 minutes gone.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: DeMerit is doing all kind of useful work back there.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: On the other end, DeMerit just gets his head to a ball that would have set Rooney free.

JemeleHill: Eh, he's still not off the hook

Luke Cyphers: Great save by Green.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Altidore goes on a long run past his man, frees himself up and hits the post!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: POST!!!!!!!!!

Chris Jones: Howard's been very solid after that early goal. He could have seriously lost his composure after that. Impressive.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Falls to Johnson at the far post. But his open shot goes hopelessly wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner for Lampard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lampard takes a long shot which Howard can't but punch over.

Luke Cyphers: And some chants of Goooooooch

Luke Cyphers: Gooch with a nice headed clearance.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Glen Johnson fakes out Donovan on the wing and sends in a good cross that's cleared.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Bocanegra cuts through traffic and vonnects with it but has no chance to get it on target.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Freekick outside the box for Donovan.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard's extended leg, studs out, connected with Dempsey's knee in full flight. Dempsey hobbled, Gerrard given a yellow.

Jeff Carlisle: That was nasty from Gerrard.

Luke Cyphers: Carlos Simon has rabbit ears from all the card-happy media stories.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: My card would have looked a different color if I were in charge.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Carragher is booked for a murderous challenge on Findley's right ankle.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I must confess to having yelled "Oh, no!"

Jeff Carlisle: Heskey has been continually getting the better of DeMerit in the air.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu managed to stay ahead of Rooney on a dead-on shoulder-to-shoulder sprint.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're in the 59th minute.

Luke Cyphers: Rooney starting to look frustrated.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Check out the World Cup Blog for a great posting by Chris, who is a goalkeeper and tried out the Jabulani in a league game.

Luke Cyphers: Dempsey creates a US threat by tracking back to stop Rooney.

Chris Jones: It's the weird rounded triangles, I'm telling you.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Chris, I'm starting to ascribe to your theory that the Jabulani lends itself to optical illusions. I've never seen so many players miss the ball entirely on headers.

Chris Jones: Like, several dozen, maybe even hundreds. It's ridiculous, Adam.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Happy birthdat, stephen.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ok, but that's the last one we're doing just to placate.

Brent Latham: Yeah, Cherundolo's having a solid game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Wright-Phillips skipped easily past Cherundolo, but the latter recovered and got the ball and the throw-in. He's the only American really standing out.

Jeff Carlisle: England finding way too much space down the center of the U.S. defense.

Luke Cyphers: Heskey's pesky.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. is just not connecting with its strikers. It's really just relegated to mopping up in the back right now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A good tackle by Onyewu keeps Rooney from breaking out with the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A good few Americans are warming up. It could just be a matter of policy, it's quite cold out here.

Luke Cyphers: Howard's ribs are going to be sore tonight.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu is again caught out of position, leaving Heskey on a free run, but his shot is straight at Howard, who clutches it gratefully to his chest.

Chris Jones: I think Howard was looking to the bench there, asking for a change at the back.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu lets a ball skip over him which sets Rooney on a free path to goal! Rooney eventually gets past Howard with a shot but it's cleared off the line by Bocanegra.

Luke Cyphers: Great play by Bocanegra to stop... Oh, offside.

Chris Jones: Science!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another English cross makes it far too deep into the American box and is cleared by a diving DeMerit. Then comes another lethal cross, but it rolls away.

Jeff Carlisle: That's the big worry right there. Lennon's pace vs. Bocanegra.

ESPN Stats and Info: Us attacking by side: 17.9 Left, 33.9 Center, 48.2 Right

Chris Jones: No, Erick, it's very scientific.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: These are two teams going for the win, that's for sure.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Aaron Lennon makes it to the backline and splits open the American box. But there's nobody there to tap it in!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Altidore plays a ball into space towards Findley, who never quite looks like he's running his hardest, but Green gets to it first and doens't have to use his hands.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: DeMerit gets a yellow for a hand ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: There.

Chris Jones: Robert Green is standing at the top of his box, praying England gets him out of this little fix he's in.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Long English free kick swings into Terry, who heads it backwards and over the back line.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: An early English run of possession ends when Wright-Phillips loses it to the sideline.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: More American shots too. 8 to 7. Though fewer on goal: 3 to 4.

ESPN Stats and Info: Wayne Rooney averaged four touches inside the box per half for Manchester United, but has yet to record one this match

Brent Latham: I for one can't see the U.S. absorbing pressure the rest of the game without some changes, sooner rather than later. In the past Bradley has been more one to wait and see.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're set to go for the second half.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Improbable!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A few stats for you to digest here.

Possessions: Eng: 47%, U.S.: 53%

Luke Cyphers: Ledley King subbed out for Jamie Carragher.

Chris Jones: Robinson could blame the grass, at least. Green, not so much.

JemeleHill: I'm feeling cold. Well, at least my fingers.

Chris Jones: I ate chicken peri peri livers for lunch today, so I'm feeling pretty ubuntu.

Brent Latham: Robert Green is American ubuntu

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'm feeling braai.

Luke Cyphers: Is everybody feeling more kenako or more ubuntu right now?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dennis, it's not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. We can actually talk to each other in the press box. It takes some shouting, but it was an utter impossibility yesterday in Soccer City at Mexico-South Africa.

Luke Cyphers: Real Sports, as a former NFL writer, I beg to differ. And Peter King sitting two seats next to me is thoroughly enjoying himself.

Brent Latham: Stats say U.S. had the ball 53% of the time. Not bad, that, but it didn;t lead to any clear chances.

Chris Jones: I think Robert Green must have been helping to clean up earlier today.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. didn't have an altogether bad half. There was good stuff in there. While the defensive organization was sometimes lacking, the closing down was often very good. And Rooney has hardly been a factor.

Brent Latham: I can't see the U.S. absorbing pressure the rest of the game without some changes, sooner rather than later. In the past Bradley has been more one to wait and see.

Chris Jones: Dude, it's halftime

Brent Latham: Not sure if that carries over from cup to cup, but then again bad goalkeeping seems to. England closed out the half looking closer than ever to a second.

ESPN Stats and Info: Some potential bad news for England: They have surrendered 13 goals in the first half and 32 goals in the second half at the World Cup.

Chris Jones: Josh, Leander. Leander, Josh.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: You should be ashamed, Chris. If I were sitting next to you I'd slap you.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not in America, Jemele. In England, yes...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Hahnemann and Guzan are warming up. This is standard during half-time though, for the reserve goalies to warm up.

JemeleHill: I'm not scared of Green. I'm sure I'll slip through his fingers. Too soon?

Chris Jones: I'm ashamed to admit I kind of like the Shakira anthem they're playing right now.

Brent Latham: It was a short tournament in 1930 Jon, I think there were about a dozen teams or so and the U.S. dominated their group and went straight to the semis, where they lost 6-1 to Argentina. Yugoslavia refused to play for third place apparently, so there you go.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Paul, I think you're right about Crouch. He's just the man to scrape home a go-ahead goal. I rather think the Shaun Wright-Phillips insertion was a clever one though. It completely shut down Cherundolo's dangerous runs and further exposed the U.S.'s backs.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Interesting point, USA!

Chris Jones: Jeez, Jemele. That's cold. Ice cold.

JemeleHill: Even Bill Buckner is ashamed of Robert Green right now

Chris Jones: Still in the game and looks fine, Craig.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's where the U.S. has the advantage right now. But there's no way they get another break like that.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The minutes before half-time are crucial psychologically, as they dictate the mood in the locker room during half-time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I still think they have the better hand. But this is really a great gift the U.S. has gotten. The game looked all but played.

JemeleHill: OK, so maybe posting compliments isn't so shameless :) Thanks kev kev

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Let's answer some questions.

Luke Cyphers: Nobody on England gave Green the time of day on the way off the field.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Fair point, Luke.

Luke Cyphers: Bad as Green was, nobody came close to closing Clint down. Dempsey's good, but...

Brent Latham: Man, you guys don't read my articles on Soccernet? Bert Patenaude, from 1930, but thinking aboiut it, he scored 4, so actually I need to read my own. Dempsey needs two more.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Proud American heads heading into the locker room; dishevelled British heads drooping.

JemeleHill: Shameless, Chris. Just shameless.

Chris Jones: There you go, Phil.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Half-time. Shocking scenes at the Royal Bafokeng here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 20 or so seconds to go.

Luke Cyphers: You stumped the panel, Brent.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: To no avail.

Chris Jones: That's how you get your comment posted.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Altidore hussles well to get a deep throw-in.

david_schoenfield: From ESPN Stats & Information: Green made four errors leading to goals in the 2009-10 EPL season - more than any other player.

Brent Latham: for the US that is

Brent Latham: That goal leaves Dempsey within one of becoming the all-time leading WC scorer, with McBride and...can anyone guess who else?

david_schoenfield: Reminds me Jackie Smith's famous dropped TD pass in the end zone and the call -- "He's got to be the sickest man in America." Smith is a Hall of Fame tight end, but all people remember is the dropped pass. (OK, sorry ... wrong football.)

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The replay just showed Onyewu savaging Heskey on the corner. Kimbo Slice not just in beard.

Luke Cyphers: They never quit.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Say what you will of the U.S today, but they're giving it their all.

Chris Jones: Three minutes extra time announced.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A deep Lampard corner is cleared.

Brent Latham: I'm thinking that's an option, Luke

JemeleHill: David Beckham's face just intimidated Kendrick Perkins' face. Wow. If looks could kill, Green would have evaporated.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu, bear and all, clears a Lennon cross for a corner.

Luke Cyphers: Brent: Torres second half, to calm the match?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Talk about a momentum shift. This might become an entirely different game.

Jeff Carlisle: Green will be hearing about that goal for the entire EPL season next year.

Chris Jones: David Beckham on the bench after the goal -- looks like Posh just broke up with him.

Brent Latham: Now if you're Bradley, what do you do with this gift? Because the tide's still in England's favor as far as possession and chances.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Heskey is down after losing a header to DeMerit.

Jeff Carlisle: This game is reminding me a bit of the Italy game four years ago. U.S. falls behind, and then a lucky equalizer.

david_schoenfield: Bring on Calamity James!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: USA chants are now rising. The English look a little shellshocked as the USA starts to pile on the pressure.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: What luck by Dempsey. What luck for the USA.

Luke Cyphers: Forlorn Green

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It went right at Green! But he didn't have his hands or knees behind it and it just skipped off his glove and into the goal.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A subsequent dribble and shot by Johnson is saved by Howard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney tries to dash off after the re-start but DeMerit blocks it.

Jeff Carlisle: Stunning error by Green.

JemeleHill: I think Clark is safely off the hook now

Chris Jones: Robert Green is the loneliest man in the world right now.

Luke Cyphers: Cross-sport metaphor time: Tony Romo!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Nobody expected that!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dempsey takes a shot and Green muffs a routine save!!!

Brent Latham: There's your calamity Chris

Leander Schaerlaeckens: USAA!!!!!!

Jeff Carlisle: Agreed there Eric.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!

Luke Cyphers: Why'd they start Milner in the first place?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: While the U.S. has done a good job shutting down Rooney by staying on him, they're getting killed out on the wings.

JemeleHill: Based off some of your responses, Kleenex is having a good day

Jeff Carlisle: The introduction of Wright-Phillips has taken away Cherundolo's attacking contribution completely.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cherundolo gets a yellow for a challenge on Heskey.

Chris Jones: Welcome Pete. Admission is the first step toward getting better.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan is allowed to shoot from the edge of the box, after a nice pass from Dempsey was flicked on by Findley. It goes just wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're in the 37th minute here. And things aren't looking good. The U.S> isn't creating chances and barely holding on defensively. As I wrote that, Wright-Phillips was left open to shoot. It went wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yeah, Jeff. i was thinking the same thing. A little redemption.

Chris Jones: No call, John.

Jeff Carlisle: I will say, Clark has been better in the 15 minutes or so. Key interception there during that last England attack.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Findley breaks out on the left but can't dribble past Johnson. He seems a little out of his depth here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cleared and then offsides.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner to England.

Luke Cyphers: Little noticed, but US doing a decent job on Rooney. So far.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Several promising positions by England are for naught as the Americans aggressively close down shots.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England is stronger in the air here. Heskey was allowed to come 20 yards and win a header on a goal kick.

Luke Cyphers: US putting some pressure on, but the last pass...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dempsey chips a ball into the box to the benefit of absolutely nobody, except England.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The aerial battles have been fierce thus far.

david_schoenfield: More: As a follow up to the England passing note -- If England doesn't improve their passing accuracy, this would be their lowest ever single-match total since the stat was tracked starting in '66

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A very long shot by Altidore rolls into the hands of Green.

david_schoenfield: From ESPN Stats & Information: Despite their lead, England's passing accuracy is low, only 61.7% thus far.

Chris Jones: No, just a yellow card, goon.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan and Dempsey have switched wings.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: On his first touch Wright-Phillips loses it to Cherundolo, who has been excellent.

James Martin: do you think it was card-worthy, Jeff?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Howard is back, folks. That makes it 1-1 psychologically, right?

Chris Jones: Join the crying chorus, Tony.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Howard is up and walking again.

Luke Cyphers: Hahnemann warming up.

david_schoenfield: TV guys said "for constinent impingment"

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's another speedy winger to contend with for the U.S.

Jeff Carlisle: Given this referee's reputation for tossing out cards, I'm surprised one wasn't given there.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Milner is off for Shaun Wright-Phillips for England.

Brent Latham: I'd be more worried about the arm than the chest

JemeleHill: Howard took a nasty cleat to his forearm

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As if the opening to this game wasn't nightmarish enough... the U.S. might now be without its starting goalkeeper.

Chris Jones: He took a pretty good shot to the chest.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Play was stopped.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Howard is down and hurt.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Johnson on the right got the cross in. Howard got in front of Heskey but was hit in the left underarm by the latter's boot.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard with the corner, skied by Bocanegra. Gerrard wins it back after which Boca clears it again and the U.S. gets it out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Heskey broke free on the left but played it too far ahead of Rooney, who's fast but not that fast. It got to Lennon but his cross was blocked for a corner by Bocanegra.

Luke Cyphers: Actually, it was Onyewu. Pretty close. US has had a few of these now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Almost! It made it Altidore's head and went wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Long free kick for Donovan on the right, who will whip it into the box for others to connect to.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cherundolo is again whacked to the ground by Milner, who gets the yellow.

Jeff Carlisle: Cherundolo is giving Milner a torrid time down the right wing.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Aaron Lennon tried to peel off a dribble on the right, but Bocanegra, a good few years older and many miles an hour slower, blocked it off well. The clearance was iffy though.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A good ball from Bradley to Findley, who almost connected with Altidore in the box.

Chris Jones: There we go. Aaron is crying now. Hope Clark is happy.

Chris Jones: Alex, I was thinking more "Who's Crying Now?"

Brent Latham: The U.S. has at least taken some initiative since the goal. They look kind of mad about falling behind right off the bat.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. is settling down a bit now and seeing a little more of the ball. That's largely due to the nerves easing off a little, it seems.

James Martin: England players are in excellent shape, I don't think either team has an advantage there.

Jeff Carlisle: Tough to say. England trained at altitude prior to the tournament.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's thought to be the case, Evan. It's certainly something the staff put a premium on during the training camp in Princeton.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The disarray England appeared to be in is entirely invisible thus far.

david_schoenfield: That will make the comeback all that more exciting and improbable!

Chris Jones: I wasn't optimistic about the U.S.A.'s chances before the game, and it's worse than I thought.

Luke Cyphers: Dolo's doing work getting forward, as well.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Howard easily saves a shot from Rooney at the near post from quite far out.

JemeleHill: Way to be a killyjoy, Dave :)

Jeff Carlisle: Great play Cherundolo, saved a goal there.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney plays Lennon into space on the right. Lennon crosses it but Cherundolo saves it on the line with his heel!

david_schoenfield: From ESPN Stats & Information: U.S. has never come back from one down to win. They did come back to draw 1-1 against Italy in 2006.

Luke Cyphers: Fouled it off.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think it came off his face. He didn't get all of it. But it was veyr dangerous.

Jeff Carlisle: I think Altidore should have done better there.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan gets the ball by the edge of the box and sends in a good cross which Altidore heads just wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Speak of the devil!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'm not blaming Donovan. I'm saying the team needs to redirect some traffic towards him.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think they preferred the more physically robust Clark over Torres. But if you go for physicality, they should have gone with Edu, I think.

Jeff Carlisle: This is the problem for the US; they don't pass the ball well enough to really come from behind on teams. I don't think its necessarily Donovan's fault that he hasn't seen the ball.

david_schoenfield: No live stream of ABC games ... sorry

david_schoenfield: Video highlights will be posted at halftime

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan has been largely invisible on the right. His involvement is primordial for any sort of succes for the U.S.

Luke Cyphers: U.S. skill on the ball lacking. A familiar sight on their off days. Too many giveaways.

Jeff Carlisle: Who said Gerrard doesn't tackle anymore?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard gets a loud cheer for tackling Dempsey off the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And the U.S., it must be said, is not coping well. Let's see if they can outlast them though.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England is putting unbelievable pressure on the U.S.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cherundolo intercepts an attempted through ball by Gerrard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Again a wide-open Cherundolo gets it, who gets to advance before sending in a hard cross which Dempsey can't get to and goes out for a throw-in.

Luke Cyphers: What is this Twitter you speak of?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan lays it off for to Cherundolo whose cross is cleared for yet another corner.

JemeleHill: Compared to Twitter, you guys are treating Clark with kid gloves. He is getting absolutely abused on there right now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu heads it over. It's deflected though for a second corner.

Jeff Carlisle: I don't know if it's so much a team wide issue in terms of concentration. All it takes is one guy to fall asleep and you've got problems.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan with the corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Findley does well to earn a corner after tearing into the box.

Luke Cyphers: Findley speed sets up a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A back ball from Bradley to Howard went a little slow for the stadium's liking, but Howard got to it before Rooney did.

James Martin: Jeff, do you think it's a concentration issue with the early game problem?

Jeff Carlisle: True Brent, but Clark losing Gerrard so easily is just unforgivable.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It certainly isn't easy to be behind to England before the game has good and well begun.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A good header by Dempsey on a cross is saved by Green. A decent first chance.

Brent Latham: Giving up early goals continues to be a serious issue for the U.S. Hard issue to address though.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It falls to Johnson deep in the box, but a handbal preempts further danger.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lampard drilled it low, it touched an American and went behind for a corner, to be taken by Gerrard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A long free kick to England now.

Jeff Carlisle: So much for England being nervous. That goal will calm them down considerably.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Clark did indeed lose his man. His was a controversial choice to start, you're right about that Marc.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This is already the most exciting game we've seen.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cherundolo gets knocked down hard by Milner, but gets only a free kick.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Bradley, Donovan and Findley connected well, before Findley's cross was blocked on the left.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Chants of U-S-A now headed our direction, after the stadium went nuts on the England goal.

Jeff Carlisle: Ricardo Clark didn't track Gerrard, and got punished. I don't think Jose Torres could have done much worse.

Luke Cyphers: Gerrard beats Clark, and Gooch doesn't slide back.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Terrible positioning in the U.S. defense.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Game has resumed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Right down the middle.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Awful start for the U.S.

Chris Jones: Howard livid with the defense.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Heskey played Gerrard into acres of space in the box and he slotted it easily psat Howard.

JemeleHill: Well, that didn't take long

Leander Schaerlaeckens: ENGLAND!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu clears a ball into the box by the English... almost into the path of an attacker.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Donovan and Dempsey appear to be interchanging on the wings.

Luke Cyphers: Scoreboard is not palpable. Both are dark. Don't know how much time has elapsed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Altidore with the ball on the left, sends in a cross that is easily cleared.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The intensity is palpable right from the off here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Onyewu immediately connected with Altidore on a long ball over the ground, but Altidore stepped over it and let it run to Findley, who hadn't the room to do anything with it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're off! And DeMerit sets the tone with a fierce tackle.

Chris Jones: Bill Bittner, once again ladies and gentlemen. Oh, and a soccer game.

Jeff Carlisle: Looks like Milner is starting out on the left wing, with Gerrard and Lampard in the middle again. We'll see how long that lasts.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Team huddle for the U.S. ... and.... break.

Chris Jones: I don't want to sound like Andy Rooney, but these orange shoes are terrible.

Luke Cyphers: Tim Howard looks like the world's most imposing crossing guard.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. players are running out to their positions.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Meanwhile, I was in the bathroom during the England anthem. And there was someone in a stall belting it out at the top of his lungs.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Americans held the man in front of them on the shoulder with the other hand on their hearts. Quite touching.

James Martin: Rob Green for England -- smart move, I think, U.S. can't count on getting a distaster play from the likes of Calamity James.

Chris Jones: Hard to hear a crowd singing God Save the Queen and not get goosebumps...

Luke Cyphers: I also predict, however, that England will win the battle of the National Anthems.

Chris Jones: Players on their way out of the tunnel....

Chris Jones: I'd say it's a pro-England crowd, Chris, but not overwhelmingly so. We'll know more when the U.S. players come out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: There go the England benchies. Serious whistles and vuvuzelas for them.

Brent Latham: I don't lose anything by saying 2-1 USA, and I might gain some fans.

Luke Cyphers: Somebody took down the sign that said "Wayne Bridge for USA."

JemeleHill: Stuck@Work -- No, but Tim Tebow can slam a revolving door.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. bench players have just come out and taken their seats.

Chris Jones: Luke just wants to get on Bill Bittner's good side.

Jeff Carlisle: I say 2-0, England.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We look forward to your hate mail.

Luke Cyphers: My blog partner and I, Doug McIntyre, on ESPN Insider, have already said the U.S. won't lose. I think the Yanks are primed to come away with at least a point tonight. 2-2.

Jeff Carlisle: I think the U.S. will defend and counter, just like against Spain and Brazil. England will try to rely on its significant edge in talent to break the U.S. down.

Chris Jones: At risk of needing to sleep with my eyes open tonight... 3-1, England.

JemeleHill: My official prediction: England 2, USA 1.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'm calling this a minor victory to the English. It will be a scrappy game, and certainly a hard-fought one between two teams who aren't at full strength.

JemeleHill: No, Chris, Tim Tebow

Chris Jones: Anthony, you're confusing Rooney with Chuck Norris.

Jeff Carlisle: I heard James picked up on injury on the flight down (I'm not kidding). Who knew flying could be so hazardous?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Serious ENGLAND! chants emerging from our left, by the way.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: So, panelists, who do we think will win? As per Lee's question.

Luke Cyphers: Yes, Green's a surprise, Chris, but who knows the mind of Fabio Capello? Nobody until two hours before the match.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Jared: Robbie looked good against Turkey in Philadelphia. Then again, Buddle looked good against Australia here on June 5. But I think head coach Bob Bradley thinks of Buddle as cover for Altidore, as more of a target man, and Findley as the ultimate replacement for Charlie Davies as the striker charged with stretching the defense.

Jeff Carlisle: Findley is needed for his speed. The hope is that he'll stretch the defense and 1) create space underneath for Dempsey and Donovan and 2) make Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson stay home more.

Chris Jones: Speaking of keepers, Green a bit of a surprise starter, no? I thought James was going to get the cal. Or maybe I was just hoping he would, so I'd have something to write about.

Jeff Carlisle: I think Onyewu has been a bit more injury-riddled than Rooney. That's just a scary matchup.

Luke Cyphers: Coolest moment of the night so far: English keepers Green, Hart and James are out warming up, and the three US keepers, Howard, Hahnemann and Guzan come out of the tunnel. Howard gives a big thumbs up, which is returned by all three, as is a wave by Guzan. And Hahnemann and James go out and embrace at midfield. It was a English Premier League keeper convention, set to the tune of the unofficial South African anthem, Shoshozola, booming over the speakers. Real respect from both sides. And shows how far U.S. soccer has come.

JemeleHill: Yeah!!!!!!!!

JemeleHill: Wait, why the OMG?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ross: Yes. But he's been injured and hopefully the U.S. will benefit from the long, injury-riddled season he's had.

Brent Latham: Greetings crew, was just a bit delayed trying to figure out the Findley choice. Yes he's fast but not exactly covered in glory at this level. At least Buddle's scoring goals.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Let's take some questions shall we?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Correction, the game starts 2.30pm ET.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It does indeed, American Girl.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It is seriously loud in here. But not nearly as loud as it was in Soccer City yesterday. Either that or I've lost significant hearing...

JemeleHill: Speaking of which, Leander, style points go to both the Americans and England for rocking the Beats by Dre studio headphones. I've got a pair, and I can say they would actually be mighty enough to drown out this club music played in the stadium.

Luke Cyphers: Remember, Bill, they hate us for our freedom.

Chris Jones: It's going to be a cold night in Bill Bittner's house.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Americans have been warming up for some time, after coming off the team bus about 40 minutes ago (all but one, Jonathan Spector, was listening to headphones). Like the English, they're slowly trickling off the field now, Landon Donovan in a full sprint for some reason.

Jeff Carlisle: The flag count looks to be about 10 to 1 in favor of England.

Chris Jones: Heard today that many English fans showed up without tickets and bought them on site, which means they weren't reflected in the pre-game count.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: There must have been a miscalculation somewhere along the way, because I don't see too many of these 42,000 that don't lean one way or another.

Chris Jones: In the giant flag count, its about 1,274 to 2, in favor of England.

Jeff Carlisle: I'm not worried about Findley's passing. It's his finishing that concerns me.

And I'm a little surprised to see James Milner in the lineup for England, given that he was battling a virus a few days ago.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yes, the official numbers were 8,000 Americans to 6,000 English.

JemeleHill: I don't know if everyone else agrees, but we kept hearing before hand that US fans were going to out-number England's fans, but the British definitely have far more presence than the Americans. It doesn't feel like a mostly-USA crowd

James Martin: Hello, all. Findley on the team. Hmm...he's got speed but he better hope he can actually do something with the ball.

Jeff Carlisle: All eyes will be on Onyewu today. It's a huge risk Bob Bradley is taking playing him when he hasn't played a full game in eight months.

Chris Jones: Evening/afternoon everybody. Excited to be here.

JemeleHill: Yo

Jeff Carlisle: Greetings everyone.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The U.S. and England have met at a World Cup just one other time, when Joe Gaetjens scored the only goal in 1950 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: They said the Americans would outnumber the English 8,000 to 6,000 here, but so far, with an hour to go before the game begins, it seems as though everyone here is English.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Afternoon, America,