Slovenia lead USA 2-0 at half-time

Group C leaders Slovenia lead the USA 2-0 at half-time in their World Cup clash on Friday at Ellis Park thanks to goals by midfielder Valter Birsa and striker Zlatan Ljubijankic.

Matjaz Kek-coached Slovenia will book their place in the Last 16 if they beat the United States, having already won their opening game against Algeria.

Slovenia got off to an ideal start when Auxerre’s Birsa drilled in a long-range shot from 30 metres out which flew into the back of the net with US goalkeeper Tim Howard rooted to the spot after 13 minutes.

His defenders screamed at him, but centre-back Oguchi Onyewu’s challenge on Birsa looked to have left the goalkeeper unsighted.

Slovenia centre-back Bostjan Cesar picked up the first yellow card of the match when he fouled US striker Jozy Altidore on 35 minutes and Francisco Torres’ free-kick forced the Slovenian goalkeeper into a diving save.

The US threatened with half-time approaching as Michael Bradley’s shot was saved off the line, but in the melee striker Robbie Findley was booked for hand ball and misses the next game against Algeria.

With three minutes left of the half, Ljubijankic latched onto a well-timed pass which split the US defence and drilled his shot past Everton’s Howard to make it 2-0 at the break.