Comeback Against the Reigning European Champions

On This Day in 1993, a Grueling Calendar Begins with a Draw Versus Denmark

The U.S. Men's National Team opened 1993 with renewed optimism, settling into its new year-round training facility in Mission Viejo. It embarked on its most ambitious schedule before hosting the 1994 World Cup. 1992 was challenging for the Americans, finishing with a 6-4-11 record (WDL) in full international matches. At least the year ended with a 5-2 victory over the Ivory Coast for third place in the King Fahd Cup, a precursor to the Confederations Cup.

Gone were the nomadic days of living out of suitcases - some players had spent more than 200 days on the road the previous year - with coach Bora Milutinovic now able to implement twice-daily training sessions in a professional environment.

"What we've been doing is surrealistic," forward Peter Vermes explained. "We just can't do that. It's so hard to perform at the level we're trying to perform on a part-time basis."

The US would average a match every 10 days in 1993, and the change was welcomed by veteran goalkeeper Tony Meola, who noted, "It's going to be like an AC Milan atmosphere, where you go in every day, and the starting lineup is not determined until Thursday or Friday. The competition will be good. It makes guys work every day."

That new preparation was tested on January 30, when the team faced European champions Denmark in Tempe. With Brian Quinn sidelined by an ankle injury and Hugo Perez away playing in Saudi Arabia, Milutinovic started Janusz Michallik and Dominic Kinnear alongside Chris Henderson, rookie Joe-Max Moore, and veteran Bruce Murray in midfield.

The Americans struggled early, conceding to Mark Strudal in the 29th minute, as Denmark dominated the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. However, the insertion of Jean Harbor, Cobi Jones, and Desmond Armstrong after halftime changed the match's complexion. Harbor's physical presence proved particularly influential, drawing multiple defenders and creating space that Murray exploited in the 58th minute when he headed home his landmark 20th international goal to equalize.

Though Jakob Kjeldbjerg restored Denmark's lead in the 85th minute, the Americans showed their fighting spirit. Harbor collected the ball at midfield and found Moore, who played a quick combination with Mike Sorber before firing home his first international goal from 12 yards out to secure a 2-2 draw. Moore celebrated with a cartwheel and backflip, having made good on his prediction from the day before that he would score.

"This was a good way to start the year," Murray reflected. "In the first half, we pushed forward, but there was nowhere to go. We stunk. We played terrible. But you have to stay with it. The draw shows no matter how difficult the conditions, we can get a favorable result."

Even Denmark's coach Richard Moeller Nielsen, who brought only three players from his European Championship squad, acknowledged the Americans' potential: "It was frustrating for us to throw a victory away, but the USA deserved a draw. It was as difficult for us as we expected. When they get all their players, they can be a really dangerous team for all nations."

The match came at a crossroads for Murray, the team's all-time leading scorer with 79 caps since 1985. His USSF contract was set to expire in May, with Scottish Premier Division side Partick Thistle expressing interest after he trained with them in November. With dual citizenship through his Scottish parents and a family home near Royal Troon golf course, the opportunity seemed perfect - yet the dream of playing in a home World Cup still pulled at him. Eventually, when his contract with USSF ran out, Murray would earn a move to Millwall in England in August.

A lot of draws, and a few would follow for the US over the next few months leading into a jam-packed summer. The Americans would play eight more matches, including a draw with Romania a week later, before securing the first victory of 1993 — a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia on April 9.