WORLD CUP: U.S. 2, Slovenia 2 (tie)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 18 (UPI) -- Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley scored second-half goals, lifting the United States to a 2-2 Group C tie with Slovenia in World Cup play in South Africa.

Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic put Slovenia up 2-0 before halftime but Donovan got the Americans on the board shortly after intermission and the United States kept the pressure on through the period.

Donovan's goal came from a near-impossible angle from the right when he put the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top of the net.

Still, the Slovenians held the lead despite a consistent forcing effort by the United States. The Americans' style paid off in the 82nd minute when Jozy Altidore leaped and headed the ball toward Bradley. The ball bounced twice before Bradley flicked it over Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic for the goal.

The United States even had an apparent game-winner waved off late when Maurice Edu knocked in a pass from a Donovan free kick but was apparently ruled offside.

Birsa's goal was off a 35-yard strike that froze U.S. goaltender Tim Howard and put Slovenia up in the 13th minute.

Ljubijankic made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute after working a give-and-go with Milivoje Novakovic.

Algeria held England to a surprising 0-0 draw later Friday. The two ties leave Slovenia ahead in Group C with four points, while the United States and England, which tied in their first Group C game, each have two points and Algeria has one.

Group C play wraps up, and the group's two teams advancing to the second stage determined, with a pair of games Wednesday with England playing Slovenia and Algeria going against the United States.