Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake fares well in U.S. World Cup debut, a 1-1 draw vs England - Video

United States forward Robbie Findley suffers a crunching tackle at the feet of England defender Jamie Carragher, but the Real Salt Lake player helped the Americans earn a 1-1 draw in its World Cup opener on June 12, 2010. AP/Eugene Hoshiko

Although every pundit from here to Miami and back seemed genuinely shocked that Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley started in today’s historic World Cup opener against England, the young star proved all his doubters wrong in the U.S. 1-1 draw.

Findley’s pace kept the English backs at bay, and as planned allowed the American midfielders ample room to operate in a game that even saw England striker Wayne Rooney tracking back toward his defense to help apply added pressure.

It didn’t take long for England to get things going in the scoring department, either, as a marking miscue by U.S. defenders Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit left a hole for England midfielder Steven Gerrard to slip through.

A 1-2 pass played from the feet of Rooney to fellow forward Emile Heskey soon found the outside toe of Gerrard, who sprinted past Onyewu and poked the ball past a surging Tim Howard for a 1-0 England lead just four minutes in. The Americans were able to play well enough in the last 15 minutes of the first half, however, to string together some attacking runs.

In the 40th minute the U.S. offense paid off, although not in a way the Americans expected. U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey dippsy-doodled around an English defender, going one way and then the other before uncorking a blast toward the hands of England goalkeeper Robert Green. What happened next is something Dempsey can tell his grandkids and a memory Green would rather soon forget.

Dempsey's goal was anything but legendary, a sophomoric strike that against most goalkeepers would have been gobbled up like a rolled ball from a youth player. But Green, who bobbled four balls which he lost for goals in the Premier League--by far the worst among all EPL goalies--gave the U.S. some life.

The Americans bounded into the halftime whistle with new energy, and showed their class in the second half. Green did redeem himself, though, as U.S. forward Jozy Altidore finally broke free from a stingy England defense and had a 1-on-1 opportunity against Green with about 20 minutes to go.

This time, however, Green was up to the task and parried the low drive, which ricocheted to the near post and clanged. With no American player in sight the threat was over and the game remained a draw to the final whistle.

Findley played 77 minutes in the match before being subbed out for surprise omission Edson Buddle, the L.A. Galaxy star who scored twice last week against Australia. Although Findley did not score for the Americans, his mark was left in a game the U.S. had to have and on a world stage that the Americans proved they could play upon.