Early in the game, Eddie Johnson made a poor decision to try a step over in his defending third. The turnover leads to a through ball which puts Howard into a 1v1 exactly at the seven minute mark. Howard does an excellent job of staying on his feet despite a fake shot from Dzeko. His positioning is so excellent that Dzeko can only hit the shot into his body. Unfortunately, Howard looks to push the ball out wide with his block but the rebound goes back to Dzeko. With Howard falling to his left, Dzeko slots it home between a tipped Howard and crashing defenders.
America's defending woes continue in the 31st minute. After a corner is knocked back outside, a driven cross returns into the crowd. The low trajectory and speed of the ensuing header give Howard little time to get set and react. His hands are thigh-high and are in perfect position for a low shot but since Ibisevic goes high (right at Howard's head) it takes longer for him to get his hands up. The ball whizzes by Howard's head for a second goal. Had his hands been a little higher or had he got set sooner (his feet plant after the shot) I think he might have made the save.
After tying the game at two apiece, Bosnia attacked down the right flank in the sixty-seventh minute. Another driven cross is sent in and an inside of the foot volley from eight yards out is sent to Howard's right. Howard springs to make the save but he either thought the ball was going away farther or didn't think he could cover the ground so he ends up batting the ball to the ground. Nevertheless he made the save.
Seventh-eighth minute Howard stops a low shot from twenty yards out that doesn't rise higher than stomach-height at any point past. It might have knuckled a bit so Howard muffs the shot but the closest attacker is still twenty yards away. The ball stays in play and the recovery is easy for Howard.
In the last minute before stoppage time, Howard and America are cruising at a 4-2 lead when Dzeko puts his head on the end of another whipped in ball. The glancing header slots in backpost, past a diving Howard. Again Howard is just a tad behind on planting his feet. The limited reaction time removes his step so he can only lunge out.
