USA claimed a narrow 3-2 victory over Slovenia at the Hubert Wagner Memorial on Saturday, both sides having started the tournament with defeats. The result leaves the Americans top of their group while Slovenia drop to third place after their opening loss to Poland.
By then the Americans had already shown they could compete with European opposition, though this was a different kind of challenge. Slovenia had fought hard against Poland before falling 3-2, and against France they went down 3-1. The visitors mirrored that pattern with a 3-1 defeat to Poland and a 3-0 loss to France.
And here's the thing about these opening matches — you never quite know what you're looking at. Both teams have one game in the books and neither has found their rhythm yet. Slovenia's recent form included a 3-1 win over Japan and a 3-0 victory against Turkey, but those results feel distant now.
The Americans have been slightly more consistent in their pool, picking up wins over Puerto Rico and Mexico alongside a 3-1 victory against the Dominican Republic. That experience might prove crucial as the tournament progresses and the matches tighten up.
Three points separates the two sides now, and in a tournament this close, every game matters. Slovenia will need to find something more against their next opponents if they want to stay in contention. The Americans have shown they can grind out results when needed.