In all the years I coached sports, I always understood that official’s mistakes, like player errors, are part of the game.

It has always been my belief that a batter who takes two pitches right down Broadway only to be rung up by a borderline pitch that an umpire thinks is a strike deserves what he gets. When you put yourself in a position to allow a difficult call that goes against you to hurt you, there were obviously chances to avoid the bad outcome.

The United States soccer team taught that lesson clearly last week during their World Cup match with Slovenia. For some reason, the American team struggles early in games, and then finds its game later on.

This squad is particularly having a hard time convincing its midfielders to get back on defense, and the holes they are leaving have allowed teams to attack from the area outside the 18-yard box.

Once it did get its wake-up call, down 2-0 to Slovenia at the break, the U.S. dominated the second half and got three, or should I say two, fantastic goals. Landon Donovan was particularly impressive, scoring the initial tally early in the second half to bring life and then sending beautiful balls to set up the other scores.

I say scores, but by now, sports fans know, there was just one official score and the game actually ended in a 2-2 draw. The third goal was disallowed on a phantom foul call for which we still await an explanation.

The announcers of the game initially indicated that the call was for offside, but later accounts have named at least three different American players who supposedly committed fouls. Replays clearly show no player in offside position, and also indicate that there were fouls in front of the goal, but they involved Slovenian players undressing U.S. attackers.

A few weeks ago, when baseball umpire Jim Joyce famously blew a call that cost a young pitcher a perfect game, he came out afterwards and admitted his mistake. The reaction towards him was positive. We just love people who admit their mistakes and show contrition.

When it comes to the soccer play, I wholeheartedly endorse the notion that the United States team put itself in a position to have a bad call cost them a win, and they can blame themselves for that.

It is equally true, however, that the game was taken from them by a horrible call, and I just want someone to at least tell me what foul he saw on that play. I guess I would just feel better if he owned it.