Disaster struck after the second-half kickoff , when the Americans played the ball backward and defender Steve Cherundolo committed a foul on the German captain Michael Ballack , leaving Germany with a free kick 25 yards from the American goal .
Michael Ballack /people/person/nationality Germany
NN VBD IN DT JJ NN , WRB DT NNPS VBD DT NN RB CC NN NNP NNP VBD DT JJ IN DT NNP NN NNP NNP , VBG NNP IN DT JJ NN CD NNS IN DT JJ NN .
Michael Ballack
PERSON
Germany
LOCATION
/people/person/nationality