Mile High Melee

On This Day in 2021, the First Nations League Final and the First True Test for the New Guard Generated Memorable Moments

The first chance the United States Men's National Team had to win a trophy under manager Gregg Berhalter came in the 2019 Gold Cup, and the Americans came up short in a 1-0 defeat to Mexico in the final. Next up was the newly formed CONCACAF Nations League to close out 2019. The US won Group A with nine points, qualifying for the finals in Texas. Then, the pandemic hit, suspending the tournament, and the finals were rescheduled for early June 2021. That extra year allowed this young US team to grow, which would be needed in this young core's first real test together.

During the pandemic in 2020, the US took a nine-and-a-half-month break from February to November. The club season returned a little sooner, with clubs only taking about three months off. The break allowed the injury-riddled team to get healthy and gain more first-team experience at the club level. A new-look national team emerged for the friendlies in mid-November, with Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah making their debuts, along with the returns of Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Tim Weah, who had been dealing with injuries. The star Christian Pulisic was recovering from a hamstring injury during the FA Cup Final in August and missed out on the action. The team drew with Wales before beating Panama. The "first team" wouldn't get back together until March 2021, when the US beat Jamaica and Northern Ireland — Dest scored the opener against the Jamaicans, celebrating by letting everyone know it was the US's time.

With all of his top European-based players available, Berhalter named a power-packed squad for the CONCACAF Nations League final four on May 24. The 23-man roster included players from Champions League finalists Chelsea (Christian Pulisic) and Manchester City (Zack Steffen) and continental powers Borussia Dortmund (Gio Reyna), Juventus (Weston McKennie) and Barcelona (Sergiño Dest). It also featured players from RB Leipzig (Tyler Adams), French champion Lille (Tim Weah) and Austrian champion RB Salzburg (Brenden Aaronson).

"We are excited to get this group together, especially coming off the heels of excellent domestic seasons by our players," Berhalter said. "We're looking forward to competing to win a trophy and also going through this process. This group has been together now three times in the last eight months, and every time we get together, we get closer and build the team even more."

Only four players were from MLS clubs, as the coach turned primarily to European-based players after their league seasons and before they went on summer break. Despite those accolades, it was a young U.S. squad: The average number of international appearances was 17, and, as of the semifinal, the average age was just under 24. Thirteen players were 23 or younger.

The four-match window would start with a friendly in Switzerland on May 30 — a 2-1 defeat. Pulisic was not in the U.S. side after taking part in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League final the day before, becoming the first American man to play in the final of Europe's most prestigious club title. Sebastian Lletget fired the U.S. into an early lead against the strong Swiss side preparing for the upcoming European Championship, pouncing on a loose ball in the area and side-footing home with his first touch. The Swiss hit right back through Ricardo Rodriguez, who picked up a cross at the top of the penalty area on a counter-attack. Switzerland took the lead just past the hour mark after some lax defending by the U.S. led to a goalmouth scramble, and Steven Zuber slotted in a close-range shot to seal it for the hosts in the second half.

The team traveled to Denver, where the US would play Honduras in the first semifinal on Thursday, June 3. Pulisic, fresh off his Champions League win with Chelsea, was back in Berhalter's starting XI as the U.S. played its first competitive match since November of 2019. "It was a little bit nerve-wracking," Gio Reyna said after making his competitive debut. "It was really important. It was the first, tough, really official competitive game we've had."

Reyna produced the best US chance of the first half when he skipped by two defenders in the box before shooting it wide. On the other side, Josh Sargent had to recover to make an impressive goal-line clearance in the 27th minute to keep the match goalless. Honduras continued to stall as the match progressed and almost reached the final whistle. That was until the 89th minute after a throw-in, when the ball was cycled to John Brooks about 40 yards away from the goal, who played the ball over the top to Weston McKennie. McKennie guided the pass into the path of second-half substitute Jordan Pefok, who headed the ball home for the winner. The US survived but only by a late goal in the semifinal.

In the other match, Mexico needed a penalty shootout to beat Costa Rica to set up the match for Sunday, June 6. Mexico had the better of the US since the 2014 World Cup, beating the Americans in four of the past six matchups, including a most recent 3-0 drubbing in Sept 2019. Jesus Corona put Mexico on the front foot 62 seconds into the match when he intercepted Mark McKenzie's pass and buried it into the roof over Zack Steffen. Mexico actually nabbed a second goal in the 24th minute when Hector Herrera curled in a cross after a short corner, and Hector Moreno rose highest to score off the header, but it was ruled out for offside, though it was very close. About a minute and a half after the goal was marked off, the US equalized through Reyna. Pulisic curled in the corner kick, and McKennie's header found the post. Reyna was on hand for the rebound to level the match.

As the sky turned from dusk to evening, the intensity began to build in the second half, and a few scuffles broke out. Berhalter, who started the match with a three-in-the-back, changed systems when he replaced Dest with Weah at the hour mark. The team adjusted again when backup goalkeeper Ethan Horvath replaced Steffen after the starter left with a non-contact knee injury in the 69th minute.

"Me and Zack have been on the national team since we've been 14-years-old together ... He just said everyone believes in me and just do me," Horvath said.

Memo Ochoa saved a McKennie header off a corner kick a minute later. Tensions grew as Berhalter and Mexico defender Nester Araujo came together on the touchline as the manager scooped up the ball. Everyone was on edge. In the 78th minute, Diego Lianez replaced Uriel Antuna and burned Tim Ream a minute later to create enough space to fire a shot past Horvath for what could have been the winner. But off the kick-off, the US put together a 13-pass buildup that resulted in a Weah cross. Luis Rodríguez settled the cross but allowed the ball to go out for a corner after a poor touch. Reyna curled in the corner, and McKennie finally beat Ochoa with a header to tie the match. It was an instant response. Mexico could have won it in regulation, but Horvath needed to make a diving save on a Hirving Lozano shot in the 90th minute.

After a goalless first 15 minutes of extra time with bodies continuing to fly, the US made the most of its first real attack of the second period. The Americans broke free on the right, and Weah found Reggie Cannon, who played a low cross to Pulisic near the penalty spot. Pulisic drove toward the net before being squeezed out by Jesús Gallardo and Carlos Salcedo. Initially, referee John Pitti thought nothing of the coming together, but the Video Assistant Review called the referee over to review it himself. Pitti decided it was a foul and awarded the penalty, but not before sending off Mexico manager Tata Martino during the review. Pulisic stepped up to the spot and buried it into the top right corner in the 114th minute to give the US its first lead of the match.

“I said I was going to go out swinging, and I am going to go for it,” Pulisic said of his penalty. The chaos continued as the celebrations were hampered by trash and drinks being dumped on the Americans as Pulisic shooshed the away crowd. Reyna, who was subbed off in the second half, was hit in the face with a projectile and had to be treated before play resumed.

"Total lack of respect for what's happening on the field and all the effort both teams were putting into the game," Berhalter said of the barrage of water bottles and other items. "Really disappointed to see. It could've been a lot worse" for Reyna.

In the 119th minute, the match would come to its stunning conclusion. Mexico earned a corner and ran a little play to get a shorter cross. Corona won the header and directed it toward the goal, and it hit McKenzie's extended arm. Mexico persistently appealed for the penalty. Pitti went back to the monitor to review and again decided on a penalty.

Mind games and shenanigans continued as Kellyn Acosta prevented Andrés Guardado from positioning the ball, which sparked another minor scuffle. After another 30 seconds or so, Guardado was ready for the penalty. He sent his left-footed shot to the left corner, but Horvath guessed correctly, and the substitute goalkeeper parried the shot wide. With the ball not cleared, it was eventually pumped back into the box and fell into the secure hands of Horvath. The goalkeeper fell on the ball as his teammates congratulated him.

Horvath, Steffen and third-stringer David Ochoa met with goalkeepers coach Aron Hyde on Sunday to prepare for the possibility of facing penalty kicks. The group "spent a good 30, 40 minutes watching penalties, just in case. Any one of us was prepared to step in goal. It's down to us doing our homework," Horvath said.

One more scuffle broke out eight minutes into added time when Pulisic was chopped down, and more teammates came over to defend him. More projectiles came onto the field as the sideline started to be riddled with trash. The dust settled, the ball was thrown back into play, Pitti blew the final whistle, and the US were Nations League champions. The team rushed toward the defense third, where Horvath was already getting piled on. It was the first trophy for this young core of Americans after the last guard failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

The win gave the team the belief they belonged. "I'm so proud of this group, we needed everyone today, and it was a phenomenal performance," Pulisic said afterward.

Since the embarrassment of missing the 2018 World Cup, the U.S. men have not had anything to celebrate. This victory promised to continue shaping a talented but young team ahead of the competitions that matter most. The US completed the window with a 4-0 victory over Costa Rica. This Nations League victory set the table for the title defense in 2023 and the three-peat in 2024, asserting American dominance (at home) over the region over the last handful of years.

US Shocks Portugal and the World

On This Day in 2002, a Fury of Three First-Half Goals Was Too Much For Portugal in Group D at the World Cup

What a difference four years make. In 1998, the United States Men's National Team found itself isolated in a 12th-century French chateau, removed from the World Cup's energy and excitement. Things were different in 2002. They stood in the center of soccer's global spotlight, authors of one of the most stunning upsets in tournament history. The downtown luxury hotel in Seoul that housed the national team offered bagels in the lobby, and the players could stroll to an adjacent mall, similar to an American suburb. "It looks exactly the same," defender Tony Sanneh observed. "It's scary."

This urban immersion was no accident. U.S. coach Bruce Arena, the Brooklyn-born tactician who replaced Steve Sampson after the 1998 disaster, deliberately chose the location. "I'm not a great believer in being isolated," Arena explained. "I want the players to feel the energy and culture of Seoul and Korea, and the thrill of being at the World Cup."

That philosophy extends to the field, where Arena has transformed a once-tentative American squad into an attacking force. Earlier in 2002, the US scored four goals against El Salvador and Honduras and against Jamaica in a May tune-up, they exploded for five goals. Even in a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands in their final pre-tournament friendly, which was the first time they were held without a goal in seven matches, observers noted the Americans were no longer playing like intimidated underdogs.

"In 1998, we were lost," goalkeeper Brad Friedel explained before the tournament. "This time, the way the team is preparing, the spirit we have, we will get the results we need."

Few gave the Americans any hope as they entered this match. Following their last-place finish in France four years ago, and facing what defender Frankie Hejduk called "pressure, pressure, pressure" to elevate the global perception of American soccer, the U.S. squad entered without its injured captain Claudio Reyna and creative forward Clint Mathis. What's more, six starters had never played in a World Cup match. The inexperience hardly showed on that June 5 afternoon at the Suwon Stadium.

The improbable became reality just four minutes into the match. Earnie Stewart lofted a corner kick that Brian McBride headed sharply toward goal. Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia, a legend in his country but showing rust from 18 months lost to knee injuries, collided with a teammate while attempting to make the save. John O'Brien, making his World Cup debut, pounced on the rebound and slammed it into the empty net.

O'Brien, who plays professionally in the Netherlands, looked almost apologetic after scoring. "It seemed like there was a little mist, a weird stadium and colorful seats," O'Brien said later. "It was a weird night."

The weirdness continued in the 29th minute when 20-year-old Landon Donovan, one of Arena's bold youth selections, lifted a cross from the right flank. The ball glanced off Portuguese defender Jorge Costa's head and curled toward goal. Baia made the error of failing to protect the near post. His attempted punch sent the ball careening off the upright and into the net for an own goal.

"It's almost like it had eyes for the goal," marveled Donovan, who held up his hands on the field as if to say, "Can you believe this?" "I was watching, watching, watching and saying, 'Oh my God, it's going in.'"

By this point, Sanneh — often criticized for inconsistent play at right back — had effectively neutralized Luis Figo, the reigning world player of the year. The American found his creative side in the 36th minute with a stunning cross from the right flank. The ball traveled 40 yards, bending perfectly onto the head of McBride at the far post. Baia was caught out of position again, and McBride's diving header gave the Americans an astonishing 3-0 lead. 

Portugal's attacking talent couldn't be contained forever. This was a team that had scored 33 goals during World Cup qualifying matches, led by the elegant Figo and a supporting cast of European club stars. Beto pulled one back for Portugal six minutes before halftime when O'Brien failed to clear a corner kick. The Portuguese pressure intensified after the break, and in the 71st minute, American defender Jeff Agoos inadvertently volleyed a Pauleta cross into his own net.

With the lead cut to 3-2 and nearly 20 minutes remaining, the Americans appeared physically and emotionally depleted. Making matters worse, center back Eddie Pope had to leave with leg cramps in the sticky heat. But just when it seemed the fairy tale might unravel, the Americans demonstrated newfound resilience. Veterans Cobi Jones and McBride joined with young stars Beasley and Sanneh to expertly kill the clock in the final five minutes. When the referee's whistle finally sounded, American players raced onto the field and jumped into each other's arms, celebrating their first World Cup victory since the 2-1 win over Colombia in 1994.

This one was decidedly more impressive. That game was played at home. This was won abroad, against one of the world's elite teams.

"Dating to the '90 World Cup, we've always had to play defensively," Mathis said before the tournament. "Now we have a more attack-minded team. In other World Cups, it was almost like we played for a draw. It's tough when you do that. To put pressure on teams, you have to go forward and get goals. That's how you win games."

Tonight, that aggressive philosophy paid historic dividends. The victory — arguably among the five greatest in U.S. soccer history alongside wins over Belgium and Paraguay at the 1930 World Cup, England in 1950 and Colombia in 1994 — immediately transforms the Americans' outlook in Group D. With South Korea's 2-0 victory over Poland on the previous day, the Americans suddenly find themselves in a position to advance to the knockout phase with a positive result against the co-hosts on Monday in Daegu.

"This World Cup is not over," Arena cautioned. "We've got to prepare for Korea, and our goal is to win that game."

"I think this victory will grab the attention of a lot of people in the United States," Arena said afterward, his typically stoic demeanor giving way to the faintest hint of satisfaction.

For a team that finished last among 32 teams four years ago, the transformation is remarkable. As goalkeeper Friedel, who was superb in maintaining calm during Portugal's frantic push for an equalizer, put it: "We're not going to dominate a game for 90 minutes. We're going to have to weather some storms. I think we can do that."

After tonight's performance, the rest of the world might finally believe him.

"We'd like to prove something to ourselves this time," Friedel said. "If we don't go through to the next round, it will not be because of off-the-field things. It won't be because we didn't give 100 percent on the field. It will be because maybe we weren't good enough on the day. I don't believe that will happen. The way the team is preparing, the spirit we have, we will get the results we need."

One historic result down. One giant step toward redemption taken.

US Stuns Mexico Before Record Crowd

On This Day in 1994, the Americans Delivered a Statement Victory in Their Final World Cup Warm-Up Match

With the 1994 World Cup looming just two weeks away, the United States Men's National Team faced dual challenges: finalizing their roster and building confidence for the biggest tournament in their history. Coach Bora Milutinovic, facing intense scrutiny for his unorthodox methods and seemingly indecisive approach, made his final cuts on June 1st, submitting the required 22-player roster to FIFA just hours before the deadline.

The final roster reflected the evolution of American soccer since their historic, but ultimately disappointing, showing at Italia '90, where they finished 23rd out of 24 teams. Only six players from that World Cup squad remained—goalkeeper Tony Meola, defenders Paul Caligiuri and Marcelo Balboa, midfielders John Harkes and Tab Ramos, and forward Eric Wynalda. The additions included a mix of emerging domestic talent and "passport Americans" who had developed their skills in stronger European leagues.

Among the final three players cut was defender Brian Bliss, who had been called up for recent exhibitions but tore cartilage in his left knee upon returning to his club team in Germany. Also released were midfielders Dominic Kinnear, who had missed two months following an emergency appendectomy, and Chris Henderson, who had played just 14 minutes in the past four games.

The selected squad was notably more experienced than the 1990 version. While the Americans had been the youngest team in Italy with an average age of just over 24, the 1994 roster averaged 26.5 years of age. More importantly, several key players had accumulated valuable experience in top European leagues, with Harkes returning from Derby County in England's First Division, Wynalda playing in Germany's Bundesliga, and Ramos testing himself in Spain's competitive La Liga.

As the U.S. prepared for their final tune-up against Mexico at the Rose Bowl on June 4, they knew they'd face an unusual dynamic—playing as the technical home team before a crowd overwhelmingly supporting the visitors. Officials expected around 60,000 fans for the match, with the 12:30 p.m. PDT start time deliberately scheduled to allow Mexican supporters to drive up from Baja California.

"It's always going to be an uphill battle for soccer in America," midfielder John Harkes acknowledged. "We've had it before. It makes us fight back that much harder."

Milutinovic, who had coached Mexico to the World Cup quarterfinals in 1986, cautioned that fans shouldn't expect to see the same lineup he intended to use against Switzerland in the World Cup opener. Harkes had only returned from England on Wednesday (June 1) and wasn't planning to begin practicing with the team until Monday. Meanwhile, sweeper Marcelo Balboa was suspended for the match following his ejection the previous weekend in a 1-1 draw against Greece.

The Mexican squad was facing its own challenges. Star forward Hugo Sanchez, the five-time Spanish League scoring champion and hero of Mexico's 1986 World Cup campaign, was recovering from a torn thigh muscle that had sidelined him for six weeks. Though the 35-year-old claimed to have healed and expected to play, his status remained uncertain amid controversy with his club team, Rayo Vallecano, which had been relegated from Spain's top division.

When match day arrived, even the pre-game expectations were shattered. Rather than the anticipated 60,000 spectators, an astonishing 91,123 fans packed the Rose Bowl—the largest crowd ever to witness the U.S. national team play on American soil. The previous record of 78,625 had been set during the 1984 Olympics when the U.S. defeated Costa Rica at Stanford Stadium.

The atmosphere was electric, but decidedly pro-Mexico. Well over 90 percent of the fans displayed Mexican colors, with the unofficial flag count favoring Mexico by a margin of roughly 10,000 to 20. Mexican supporters began honking horns and waving flags two hours before kickoff, chanting "Me-hi-co! Me-hi-co!" and performing the wave as their team took the field.

The scene offered an early glimpse of what the World Cup would bring to the United States. Security measures were extensive, with two layers of chain-link fencing surrounding the stadium, police helicopters circling overhead, and about four dozen Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies alongside helmeted Pasadena police stationed on the field.

"I told the players to go out and enjoy the environment they were about to play in," said Milutinovic, whose familiarity with both sides added an intriguing subplot to the match.

The Americans looked confused and scattered on defense during the opening 10 minutes. Still, Milutinovic's tactical adjustment of moving Thomas Dooley—usually a midfielder—into the backline alongside Alexi Lalas, Cle Kooiman and Caligiuri proved brilliant. The defensive unit tightened impressively, defusing numerous Mexican attacking threats before they could develop.

The first half ended scoreless, with both teams managing three shots on goal. Mexico appeared to score at one point, but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside. Milutinovic made two crucial substitutions at halftime, bringing on Wynalda and Roy Wegerle, who had recently rejoined the team from their European clubs. The move paid immediate dividends just seven minutes into the second half.

The decisive moment came in the 52nd minute, showcasing the global influences now enriching American soccer. Dooley, a naturalized American who had lived in Germany until a year earlier, delivered a precise through-ball down the left side to Wynalda, a California native playing professionally in Germany. Wynalda raced past three defenders to reach the ball and, when seemingly sealed in near the end line, executed a brilliant reverse move to lose defender Raul Gutierrez. Drawing goalkeeper Jorge Campos out of position, Wynalda calmly slid the ball to Wegerle, a naturalized American born in South Africa who played in the English Premiership, who had positioned himself perfectly at the top of the box. Wegerle's simple finish into the empty net gave the Americans their 1-0 lead.

"Eric did all the hard work," Wegerle said modestly. "The smart work was picking up his head and getting in the right place."

Wynalda, who had a wild expression on his face as he celebrated the goal, later explained his emotional reaction: "That was a little bit for my teammates, a little bit for the lack of fan support, and a little bit for the Mexican-Americans who were here today. They booed the team. I wanted to show them I was having a better time than them today."

Mexico pressed desperately for an equalizer, particularly in the closing minutes. Their best opportunity came in the 88th minute when Meola came out to challenge Ramon Ramirez, who chipped the ball over him toward the middle of the penalty area. With the net exposed, Caligiuri made a crucial defensive header to clear the danger and preserve the American lead. When the final whistle blew, the U.S. had accomplished something remarkable—silencing nearly 91,000 opposing fans on home soil.

"It was a great effort on our defense's part," said Meola, who needed to make just two saves. "Really, this was like an away game for us, and the World Cup won't be like this. It was great. We figured out how to quiet 91,000 fans."

The victory improved the American record to 5-8-5 (WDL) for the year, including a modest 2-7-3 mark against fellow World Cup teams. More importantly, it provided a timely confidence boost as they completed their warm-up schedule and turned their attention to the tournament opener against Switzerland at the Pontiac Silverdome on June 18.

"This is just a hell of a morale-booster for the team," Wegerle said. "If we could have lost, people would have just shrugged their shoulders. This will send waves around the world."

It was only the fourth win in 42 games against Mexico for the United States. This statistical breakthrough suggested Milutinovic's mysterious methods might be bearing fruit at precisely the right moment. For a team and coach that had faced mounting skepticism, with critics questioning whether Milutinovic was a "miracle worker or nutty professor," the victory couldn't have come at a better time. The players who had placed their trust in his unorthodox approach were finally seeing tangible results.

As the United States prepared to host its first World Cup, expectations remained carefully measured. The players and staff had set a clear objective—reaching the second round, something the U.S. hadn't achieved since the inaugural World Cup in 1930. With the Swiss, Colombia, and Romania awaiting them in Group A, the Americans would need at least one win, possibly a win and a tie, to advance.

"If we play at the top of our level, and we have a little bit of luck, I think we can accomplish it," said Ramos. "We don't have the type of pressure all the teams have from their countries."

Last time, in 1990, they were just happy to be there. This time, with the eyes of the world—and a skeptical American public—upon them, many team members recognized that anything less than advancing to the second round would be considered a failure. But on this sun-drenched afternoon in Pasadena, as the San Gabriel Mountains glistened in the background, the Americans had delivered a statement victory that suggested they might just be ready for their moment on the world stage.

Cobi's Masterclass

On This Day in 2000, Winger's Two Goals and Two Assists Highlight U.S. Cup Opener

While Cobi Jones struggled through a 10-game scoring drought with the LA Galaxy early in the 2000 MLS season, his national team renaissance continued with a breathtaking performance that has firmly cemented his place in Bruce Arena's World Cup qualifying plans. The dreadlocked winger, approaching Marcelo Balboa's record for most U.S. appearances, delivered what many consider one of his finest performances in a national team jersey during a commanding victory at RFK Stadium.

Arena's preparations for July's World Cup qualifying campaign reached a critical stage with the start of the U.S. Cup on June 3, and the veteran coach made his expectations clear in the days leading up to the tournament. "All the players know how important these three games are, especially with no games scheduled before World Cup qualifying," Arena emphasized during a national teleconference. "Our goal this week in training has been quality, and that is what I expect in this tournament... My expectations are that we win the U.S. Cup."

The South Africans entered the match with growing credentials on the international stage, having won the African Nations Cup in 1996 and recently secured a landmark victory over Malta. However, the visitors would prove no match for a motivated American squad still carrying the bitter memories of their disappointing 1998 World Cup showing. Before 16,570 fans at RFK Stadium, the Americans were determined to avoid a repeat of their frustrating 2-0 loss to Russia in their previous outing - a match where scoring chances went begging. This time, Jones personally ensured the finishing touch would not be lacking.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Chris Armas delivered a blind pass to Jones, who raced diagonally from the right wing toward the center. When South African defender David Kannemeyer taunted him with shouts of "Shoot it! Shoot it!" - perhaps knowing Jones's preference for his right foot - the American obliged with a stunning 20-yard left-footed rocket that sailed past goalkeeper Andre Arendse into the upper corner.

"OK. I'll shoot it," Jones recalled with a smile afterward. "My left foot? Well, it looks a lot like my right. Being a forward, you need to be able to shoot with your left foot, too."

Just before halftime, Jones struck again. When Eddie Lewis's corner kick was punched out by Andre Arendse, the ball found its way to Claudio Reyna outside the area. Reyna headed it sideways to the unmarked Jones at the top of the penalty box, who unleashed another left-footed blast that found the net despite Arendse's desperate outstretched arm.

If his first-half goals weren't enough, Jones's playmaking brilliance shone even brighter after the break. In the 65th minute, he delivered what might have been his most skillful contribution - a precise, off-balance feed from the left wing that Reyna finished easily from close range. Three minutes later, Jones completed his masterclass by setting up Earnie Stewart for the Americans' fourth goal.

"Cobi's been a good performer the 18 months I've had him," praised Arena afterward. "He knocked in two great balls with his left foot from some distance."

For Jones, the performance represented a continuation of his remarkable year in national team colors. After struggling to find the net for the national team since 1996, he has now tallied five goals and four assists in 2000 alone, helping the U.S. compile a 4-1-3 record. With his 127th international appearance, Jones inched closer to surpassing Balboa (128) as the all-time U.S. leader in caps.

"Today I got two goals, tomorrow who knows?" Jones reflected. "I can't worry about that situation, but just do the best I can and keep pushing and pushing."

The Americans will look to build on their momentum when they face Ireland on Tuesday at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts, the second of their three U.S. Cup matches. Arena is expected to field an entirely different starting eleven against the Irish, allowing him to evaluate all 22 players in camp before the crucial World Cup qualifying campaign begins next month. The tournament concludes on June 11 when the U.S. faces Mexico at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Altidore Reborn in Win Over Germany

On This Day in 2013, the American's Drought-Breaking Goal Helped Power the U.S. to a Memorable Victory Over a World Power

Following their disappointing and concerning performance against Belgium three days earlier, the United States Men's National Team found themselves at a crossroads with World Cup qualifying matches looming. The embarrassing 4-2 defeat had exposed defensive frailties and raised serious questions about the direction of Jurgen Klinsmann's program. Perhaps most troubling was the continued scoring drought of Jozy Altidore, who, despite netting 31 goals for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar this season, hadn't scored for his country since November 2011.

"There is definitely some urgency," midfielder Graham Zusi said, "but there is an urgency to get back on the field as well to make up for some wrongs." They needed to right those wrongs and answer some questions, and they needed to do that quickly, with three crucial World Cup qualifiers approaching over 12 days.

By mid-afternoon on June 2, with RFK Stadium sold out for U.S. Soccer's centennial celebration against Germany, those answers came emphatically. When Zusi delivered a perfect cross from the right flank in the 13th minute, Altidore was positioned perfectly. The moment coincided with the breaking of his 18-month international scoring drought as he one-timed a powerful right-footed volley into the right side of the net. He celebrated by kneeling on the end line and pulling back an imaginary bow to shoot an arrow, symbolically hitting a target that had eluded him for so long.

"The ball makes the goal," Altidore said with characteristic humility after the match. "The ball from Graham Zusi was fantastic. I just had to be there."

The goal shifted momentum dramatically in the Americans' favor. Just three minutes later, in a moment of remarkable fortune, German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen allowed a routine back pass from Benedikt Höwedes to slip past him and into the net. The comical own goal put the U.S. up 2-0 and energized the crowd of 47,359 fans who packed the stadium.

Though Heiko Westermann would pull one back for Germany with a six-yard header early in the second half, the Americans controlled much of the match despite facing the world's second-ranked team. Altidore's influence grew beyond his breakthrough goal as he turned provider for Clint Dempsey. Fighting for possession deep in German territory and drawing defenders, Altidore spotted his unmarked captain at the top of the 18-yard box and lofted a perfect ball that Dempsey blasted into the net to restore the two-goal advantage.

Five minutes later, Dempsey showcased his individual brilliance. In what seemed like a harmless position, he began toying with Lukas Podolski, carved out space, and unleashed a swerving 25-yard rocket into the upper left corner. The goal was Dempsey's second of the match and his 35th for his country, moving him into second place on the USA's all-time scoring list behind only Landon Donovan.

"That is what a striker needs—a striker needs goals to feel good about himself," Klinsmann remarked afterward about Altidore. The coach, facing his birth nation for the first time since taking over the U.S. program, added that Altidore is "strong in the air and technically very, very gifted."

Despite late goals from Max Kruse and Julian Draxler in the 79th and 81st minutes that made the final score seem closer than the match actually was, the U.S. had accomplished something significant. They had outclassed a soccer power, albeit one missing several key players, and rediscovered their confidence at the perfect moment.

For Altidore, the performance confirmed what his club form had suggested—that he was developing into the complete forward the U.S. program desperately needed. His ability to hold up play, bring teammates into the attack, and finish chances with power and precision would be crucial for the upcoming qualifying campaign.

"I honestly feel like I have been doing the right things," Altidore said. "It's just a matter of being patient and waiting for the chances."

The victory provided a vital boost to a U.S. team experiencing growing pains under Klinsmann. As goalkeeper Tim Howard noted, "Morale, motivation, the feel-good factor, all of that is going to play a huge role. I don't think that can be understated because going down to Jamaica is not going to be easy."

Indeed, attention quickly turned to the critical World Cup qualifier against Jamaica on Friday—the first of three qualifiers in 12 days that will largely determine the Americans' fate in their quest for a seventh consecutive World Cup berth. With the U.S. currently sitting third in the six-team CONCACAF qualifying group (1-1-1), points are at a premium.

"We take confidence from this game, and we have got to make sure we get the job done in these next three games," Dempsey emphasized. "Whether we won these two friendlies, not won these two friendlies, it all matters what we do in these next three games. That is what it is all about."

For Altidore and his teammates, the road to Brazil begins in earnest in Kingston in five days, where they'll hope to build on the momentum from their centennial celebration and continue their redemption story.

Friendly Win Over Morocco Followed By Nations League Drama

On This Day in 2022, The Americans Began Their World Cup Tune-Up With a Statement Victory

The United States Men's National Team kicked off their critical June international window seeking answers to lingering questions about their Qatar-bound roster with less than six months before their return to the World Cup stage. Following a grueling qualifying campaign that secured their tournament berth, coach Gregg Berhalter and his young squad faced a four-match gauntlet designed to fine-tune their preparations against competition beyond their familiar CONCACAF rivals.

The Americans' schedule featured two high-profile friendlies against World Cup-bound opponents—Morocco on June 1 in Cincinnati and Uruguay on June 5 in Kansas City—before concluding with mandatory CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada on June 10 in Austin and El Salvador on June 14. For a team that had spent the previous three years primarily competing against regional opposition, these fixtures represented one of their final opportunities to measure themselves against diverse international competition.

"I feel like we've played Concacaf teams for the past two years," midfielder Tyler Adams remarked on the eve of the Morocco match, accurately reflecting a schedule that had seen 41 of the team's previous 50 games come against regional opponents. With their World Cup group stage drawing closer—featuring matchups against Wales or Ukraine, England, and Iran—Berhalter's squad desperately needed the calibration these friendlies would provide.

The preparation window opened with several roster storylines worthy of attention. Berhalter had left the door open to some long-absent candidates, including forward Haji Wright and defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, both returning to the national team for the first time since 2019 after standout club seasons in Turkey and Scotland, respectively. Bayern Munich prospect Malik Tillman, having just switched his international allegiance from Germany to the United States, joined the camp eager to make his debut and potentially stake a claim for a World Cup roster spot.

Meanwhile, several key players remained unavailable due to injuries, including right back Sergiño Dest, attacker Gio Reyna, and center backs Chris Richards and Miles Robinson—the latter sidelined indefinitely with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Weston McKennie, recovering from a broken foot, joined the squad but wasn't yet at full fitness.

Against this backdrop of opportunities and absences, the Americans took the field at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, determined to establish a baseline against Morocco, the 24th-ranked team in FIFA's standings and a fellow Qatar qualifier.

After weathering some early Moroccan pressure, the United States found its breakthrough in the 26th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from captain Christian Pulisic. Center back Walker Zimmerman launched a 50-yard pass that Pulisic controlled with exquisite technique, looking over his shoulder to track the ball's flight before settling it with a cotton-soft touch. The Chelsea star then cut back sharply on two defenders before laying the ball off to the onrushing Brenden Aaronson, who fired home from 11 yards for his sixth international goal.

Six minutes later, Tim Weah doubled the advantage with a thunderous 22-yard strike that handcuffed Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Despite getting a hand to the shot, Bounou couldn't prevent the ball from flying into the net, putting the Americans in control midway through the first half.

After the break, the U.S. team continued to impress, with Pulisic in particularly dazzling form. The captain's influence extended beyond his assist when he earned a penalty after being fouled by Achraf Hakimi in the 64th minute. In a gesture that exemplified his leadership, Pulisic handed the ball to Wright, his roommate from the 2017 Under-17 World Cup, allowing the debutant to cap his first international appearance with a confidently taken penalty kick.

"We go way back," Pulisic explained afterward. "He needed that goal, and he said he was confident to go step up and take it, so I wanted him to get that confidence, and I'm glad he scored."

The match also saw first caps for left back Joe Scally, who entered at halftime alongside Wright, and Tillman, who made his debut in the 65th minute just a day after FIFA approved his change of affiliation. The night's only blemish came when referee Ismael Cornejo awarded Morocco a questionable penalty after ruling that Scally had fouled Soufiane Rahimi, though replays showed no contact was made. Fortunately for the Americans, Selim Amallah's spot kick struck the crossbar, preserving the clean sheet in a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

"We talked about establishing a baseline for this group, how we can perform against World Cup opponents," Berhalter said afterward. "The group went out and showed exactly how good we can be, but also at times vulnerable. We still know we need to keep improving, and that's why this game was so good for us."

The victory extended the Americans' home unbeaten streak to 24 matches since September 2019, leaving them just two shy of the team record. More importantly, it provided valuable insights into the squad's capabilities against the caliber of opposition they'd face in Qatar.

Four days later, the Americans continued their preparation with a tougher test against 13th-ranked Uruguay in Kansas City. Despite creating several promising opportunities, the U.S. attack struggled to convert chances in a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Jesus Ferreira had the best opportunities for the Americans, missing a 15-yard shot saved by Fernando Muslera in the 19th minute and sending an open header wide shortly after. The result highlighted the team's ongoing challenge at the striker position, as U.S. forwards had now scored just once in the previous 13 matches.

Berhalter made seven changes from the Uruguay match when the team faced 170th-ranked Grenada in Austin on June 10 in their CONCACAF Nations League opener. Neither Pulisic nor Adams dressed for the match. Still, their absence didn't matter as Ferreira emphatically answered some questions about the striker position with a four-goal performance in a dominant 5-0 victory. The FC Dallas forward's clinical finishing display matched Landon Donovan (2003), Joe-Max Moore (1993), Buff Donelli (1934), and Archie Stark (1925) for the most goals scored in a single game by an American player. Paul Arriola added the other goal as the Americans extended their unbeaten run at home to 26 matches, tying the previous record set between 2013 and 2015.

The four-match window concluded on June 14 with a challenging trip to San Salvador to face El Salvador in Nations League play. On a muddy, waterlogged pitch at Estadio Cuscatlan, the Americans found themselves trailing at halftime after Alexander Larin caught goalkeeper Ethan Horvath off his line with a brilliant strike from the left flank in the 35th minute. The match took several dramatic turns in the second half, with both teams reduced to 10 men after red cards to Paul Arriola for the U.S. and Ronald Rodriguez for El Salvador. Just when it appeared the Americans would suffer a disappointing defeat, substitute Jordan Morris rose to meet a Luca de la Torre cross in stoppage time, heading home the equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw under difficult conditions.

With the June window complete, Berhalter's squad would have just one more gathering—two September friendlies in Europe against yet-to-be-announced opponents—before departing for Qatar. The Morocco triumph had provided the high point of the four-match stretch, offering a glimpse of what this young American squad might achieve when the stakes are highest at the World Cup in November.

The Nightmare in Torrance

On This Day in 1985, Costa Rica's 1-0 Victory Derailed US Soccer's World Cup Dreams

After thirty-five years without a World Cup appearance, the United States Men's National Team entered May 1985 with renewed optimism. Consecutive victories over Trinidad and Tobago had positioned the Americans atop their second-round qualifying group, and they needed just one more positive result to advance to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

The qualifying campaign had started promisingly. On May 15, the Americans came from behind at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to defeat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 before 15,823 fans. Mark Peterson scored a dramatic 88th-minute winner after Chico Borja had equalized an early Trinidad goal. Four days later, in Torrance, California, Paul Caligiuri's 15th-minute header secured a 1-0 victory in the second leg, completing a sweep of the Caribbean nation.

These victories put the U.S. in control of its qualifying group with four points from two matches. With a subsequent 1-1 draw against Costa Rica in San Jose on May 26, where John Kerr's 44th-minute goal canceled out Oscar Ramirez's opener just a minute earlier, the Americans needed only a tie in the return leg to advance to the final round against Honduras and Canada.

The scene shifted to Murdock Stadium at El Camino College in Torrance, California, for the decisive qualifier on May 31. Coach Alkis Panagoulias fielded a young lineup that included college players like Caligiuri (UCLA), Kerr (Duke), and 19-year-old Mike Windischmann (Adelphi). The team featured Arnie Mausser in goal, Gregg Thompson, Dan Canter, Kevin Crow, and Windischmann in defense, Caligiuri, Perry Van Der Beck, Rick Davis, and Mike Fox in midfield, and Kerr and Hugo Perez up front.

The Americans entered the match with confidence, needing only a draw to advance, while Costa Rica required a victory. However, the venue selection compromised what should have been a home-field advantage. Of the 11,800 fans in attendance, half supported Costa Rica. The half-time show even featured Costa Rican folk dancers.

"I felt like I was in San Jose, Costa Rica," midfielder Jeff Lewis recalled.

Despite the partisan crowd, the U.S. started strongly, with Perez forcing Costa Rican goalkeeper Alejandro Gonzalez into a diving save just 30 seconds into the match. The Americans controlled possession and created several quality chances in the opening half-hour. However, in the 35th minute, disaster struck. Jorge Chevez sent a free kick into the American penalty area. Mausser came out to punch the ball away but failed to clear it effectively. The ball fell to a Costa Rican player who headed it to Evaristo Coronado, positioned just five feet from goal. Coronado knocked it into the unguarded net, giving Costa Rica a 1-0 lead against the run of play.

"I came out of my goal to punch the ball away, but did not clear the ball very well and Costa Rica scored," Mausser would later recount, calling it perhaps his greatest professional regret.

The Americans redoubled their efforts, pushing forward in waves as Canter and Thompson raided down the flanks. In the 73rd minute, they thought they had equalized when Canter drilled a shot that appeared to find the net. Referee John Meachin initially awarded the goal, prompting American celebrations. However, after consulting with linesman Robert Allen, he correctly ruled that the ball had hit the side netting rather than entering the goal.

The Americans could not find the equalizer despite outshooting Costa Rica 13-8 and earning six corner kicks to Costa Rica's none. When the final whistle blew, the score remained 1-0 to Costa Rica.

Coach Panagoulias was despondent: "God is not an American," he declared. "I am convinced of it now. The way we went out hurts. Although the team was still not ready, we played our best game so far. I have nothing but compliments for the players."

The defeat had profound personal and professional consequences. For Davis, then 27 and the face of American soccer, the loss was almost too much to bear.

"It was still that big of a hurt that I seriously considered retiring right after that game," he later revealed. "It was that... emotionally crushing. There's just not anything that would cheer me up. I remember that I was not me. I didn't want to talk to people afterwards. I didn't want to be around people."

For Davis and his generation of American players, the defeat represented more than just elimination from the 1986 World Cup qualifying campaign. It symbolized a missed opportunity that they would never get again.

"It wasn't just one game," Davis explained years later. "It was as if this game represented the lost opportunity of my entire generation of players. This was it. There wasn't going to be an opportunity down the road. It was gone."

Many players never represented the United States in a meaningful international match again. Panagoulias was dismissed less than a month later. Several careers were permanently altered — Davis never played professional outdoor soccer again, though he continued indoors until 1990.

After the match, a frustrated Thompson approached Panagoulias in the locker room and asked, "When are we ever going to play a home game?" The coach's blunt response: "Never."

Yet from this crushing defeat emerged valuable lessons that would transform American soccer. The U.S. Soccer Federation began to professionalize its operations. In California, four clubs formed the A-League the following year, establishing a foundation for outdoor professional soccer's rebirth. The federation created formal distinctions between youth, amateur and professional programs, setting the stage for the current soccer pyramid.

Four years later, the U.S. would qualify for the 1990 World Cup thanks mainly to Caligiuri, one of the few players from the 1985 squad to get another chance, who scored "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" against Trinidad and Tobago in 1989. That victory ended a 40-year World Cup drought and began an era of American soccer, including hosting the 1994 World Cup and establishing Major League Soccer in 1996.

Since that fateful night in Torrance, the United States has qualified for seven consecutive World Cups, demonstrating how far the program has come. Yet for the players who walked off the field on May 31, 1985, the memories of what might have been remain poignant reminders of a generation that, in Davis's words, "missed the boat."

As USSF President Sunil Gulati would later reflect, "In every way we are more professional now. Whether that's in the number of coaches we have, whether that's in where we play our games, whether that's in the support staff, whether it's the level of hotels we stay at, or whether it's how players and teams prepare... It's just a very different world."

That very different world was built on the hard lessons learned from the heartbreak of May 31, 1985 — a date that marks both an end and a beginning in American soccer history.

Historic Goalless Draw With Italy

On This Day in 1984, Americans Hold World Cup Champions Italy to a Draw

In what coach Alkis Panagoulias called "the game of the decade for the Americans," the United States national soccer team achieved what many considered impossible: holding the reigning World Cup champions Italy to a scoreless draw in a rain-soaked match at Giants Stadium that instantly earned a place in American soccer lore.

The match represented a formidable challenge for the Americans. Italy arrived as the defending World Cup champions, the soccer aristocrats who had conquered the world in Spain just two years earlier. Their roster boasted world-class talents like Marco Tardelli and Claudio Gentile, nicknamed "Qaddafi" for his resemblance to the Libyan strongman and his notoriously physical style of play. More notably, on May 19, FIFA awarded Italy the right to the 1990 World Cup, so the Italians had all the momentum off the field.

For the Americans, merely sharing the field with such opposition seemed daunting. The historical record was brutal: in five previous meetings dating back to 1934, the United States had lost all matches to Italy by a combined score of 35-1. The most recent defeats included a 10-0 drubbing at Rome's Olympic Stadium in 1975 and an 8-0 loss at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Compounding the challenge, Panagoulias had barely 48 hours to assemble his squad. The perpetual struggle between the North American Soccer League (NASL), Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), and the U.S. Soccer Federation left the national team in its usual disarray.

"I missed the (Cosmo's) game against Barcelona because of my injuries," said Jeff Durgan, captain of the American side and defender for the New York Cosmos, before the match. "But there is no way injuries will keep me out of the Italy game." His determination echoed Panagoulias's preaching: playing for one's country represented the highest honor in the sport.

Notable absences hurt the American chances. Rick Davis of the St. Louis Steamers, expected to anchor the midfield, was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Charlie Fajkus wasn't released by Chicago Sting coach Willy Roy, a decision that particularly frustrated Panagoulias. "Willy Roy was the last person I expected to make things difficult for the players," the Greek-American coach lamented, "because he has been a player for the national team of the United States. He knows what it means to the players to play for their country."

A crowd of 31,210 braved heavy rain and cold temperatures at Giants Stadium on May 30, the majority waving Italian flags emblazoned with "campione del mondo" (champions of the world). The American players were even greeted with jeers during pre-match introductions, a stark reminder that they were effectively playing a road game on home soil. Both teams struggled for control on the slippery artificial turf—a surface unfamiliar to the European visitors. Italy dominated possession and outshot the Americans 18-9, but the United States defended with remarkable discipline and organization, especially considering their minimal preparation time.

The match's most dramatic moments came at both ends. In the 30th minute, Pietro Fanna, later named Italy's player of the match, headed what appeared to be a certain goal, only for Durgan to clear it off the line in a spectacular defensive play. "I'm sad we didn't put the ball in the net," Durgan would later say. "It would have been better with a victory, but this is a big result for us."

The Americans nearly authored a stunning upset in the 73rd minute when Andy Parkinson's header beat goalkeeper Giovanni Galli but struck the left post. "It was going for the corner of the goal," Parkinson recalled, "but the goalkeeper made a good save. I thought it was in."

Angelo DiBernardo, the Americans' midfield playmaker, also came close in the 77th minute with a booming free kick that sailed just over the Italian goal. Despite Italy's continuous pressure in the final minutes, the American defense held firm to secure the historic draw. As the final whistle blew, the magnitude of the achievement began to sink in. Many players and observers considered it the most significant result in American soccer since the shocking 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.

"I'm very encouraged by this result," Panagoulias beamed afterward. "I thought we played tactically the right way on defense and in midfield. Several of our players were magnificent."

Italian coach Enzo Bearzot, while disappointed with his team's inability to score, praised the American development. "Certainly, the U.S. hasn't been one of the well-known national teams in the world," Bearzot said, "but Alkis Panagoulias will change that. Maybe not today, but he will change it. U.S. soccer is growing."

For DiBernardo, who orchestrated much of the American attack, the result validated their place in international soccer. "I heard a few 'U.S.A.-U.S.A.' chants," he said. "I think we showed that we can compete with anybody."

The match represented the first full international for the United States in 1984 but was not the last significant competition for many team members. The Olympics loomed on the horizon, set for Los Angeles later that summer, offered another opportunity to build on this breakthrough result. 

NASL president Howard Samuels recognized the potential watershed moment: "This game and the Olympics, with some of these players in it, is a good shot in the arm for the league at a time we need it. It shows the international part of the sport, which is a world sport. Soccer will never really be a great sport in America until we prove we're ready for international competition."

Panagoulias, who had coached the short-lived Team America franchise in the NASL the previous year, saw the match as a turning point. "The game against Italy, the other international matches we have scheduled, and the Olympics are all the turning point for soccer in this country," he said. "American people easily recognize the Olympics. So it will be very important."

Looking beyond the immediate horizon to the 1986 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for September and October against the Netherlands Antilles, Panagoulias was blunt about what was needed: "Success can come if we get cooperation at the top, at the administrative level. There is too much politics. Period. Nothing else is the problem."

For one rain-soaked night in East Rutherford, however, those persistent problems were temporarily forgotten as American soccer stood tall against the world champions, offering a tantalizing glimpse of its potential on the international stage.

First Win Over Ireland, Sparked by a Couple of Debutants

On This Day in 1992, After Being Humiliated by the Irish a Month Earlier, the Americans Bounced Back in a Big Way

As host of the 1994 World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team automatically qualified for the tournament, thus avoiding the rigorous schedule of World Cup Qualifying. On the other hand, a host will play fewer competitive matches in the lead-up to the tournament. So, the US Soccer Federation filled the schedule with as many friendlies as possible and created the US Cup, which would select quality opponents for America to play in preparation for the main tournament in 1994, both on and off the field.

Things were shifting for the better for the US after the 1990 World Cup. Bora Milutinović replaced Bob Gansler in early 1991, adding professionalism to the program. The trajectory continued upward as the US won the first Gold Cup in July 1991, capped with a penalty shootout win over Honduras in the final. This is where the creation of the US Cup came about, as player development at the time relied on as much international exposure as possible. Most US national team players were contracted with US Soccer without a domestic pro league available. The federation filled the schedule, and the team played in 97 matches between World Cups — the most in a USMNT cycle. Between the Gold Cup from the previous summer and the 1992 US Cup, the US played 15 friendlies, from California to Casablanca.

While the team was developing on the field, the federation was recruiting and searching for players with ties to the United States. First was Earnie Stewart, who, in 1990, the USSF discovered was a US citizen while playing professionally in the Netherlands since 1988. Stewart grew up in California between the ages of two and seven before moving with his parents — his dad was an Air Force airman — to Uden, Netherlands. He made his debut against Portugal in Portugal at the end of the year. He wouldn’t play again for the national team until 1992 when he played in three matches in Brazil, Spain and Morocco, but this US Cup match against Ireland would be his first on US soil.

By mid-1992, two more names overseas had piqued the federation's interest. First was Roy Wegerle. Wegerle, born and raised in South Africa, played college soccer at the University of South Florida before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first round of the 1984 NASL college draft. After the NASL folded following his first season, he moved to the Tacoma Stars of the MISL for two seasons before getting a tryout at Chelsea in 1986, and his professional career took off. In 1991, Wegerle became a US citizen, eligible through his American wife, Marie. On May 17, 1992, he committed his future to the US at 28 years old, despite his eligibility to play for South Africa, Scotland or England.

The other was Thomas Dooley. He had a much different path to the national team. Dooley was born in West Germany to a German mother and a US Army father. His father abandoned the family when he returned to the States when Dooley was 1 year old, and they had not met since. Dooley stayed in Germany, being teased as a kid for being American with no proper American ties. But he embraced the culture, longing to visit the US his whole life before his new country would adopt him. Dooley rose through German professional football, winning the German Cup in 1990 and the Bundesliga title in 1991 with 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The then-31-year-old didn’t speak English but was thrilled to be eligible to play for the US through Germany’s policy to take the father's citizenship too.

Those wins off the field helped alleviate the lack of winning for the US to start 1992. After a goalless draw with Costa Rica in early February, the Americans lost four in a row to El Salvador, Brazil, Spain and Morocco before bouncing back with a 5-0 win over China on April 4 — at the time, the biggest win based on goal difference in US Soccer history. Three-and-a-half weeks later, the US traveled to Ireland, where the Americans were sent home with a 4-1 defeat. It was four matches without a win against the Irish dating back to 1924. The US also lost to Scotland 1-0 two weeks before the start of the US Cup, making it one win in eight before this match with Ireland on May 30.

Dooley started while Stewart and Wegerle were on the bench to begin the match. After a scoreless first half where the US had numerous chances, Wegerle replaced Bruce Murray at halftime. In the 51st minute, Mick McCarthy nodded home the opener on a corner to give Ireland the lead. That lead didn’t last long, as Tab Ramos drew a foul on the left wing shortly after the kickoff. Hugo Perez tossed in the left-footed free-kick, and Dooley rose highest to get a head on it. The ball fell to John Doyle at the back post. His mishit shot fell to Marcelo Balboa with a free shot at the goal to equalize. Dooley was the first one to hug Balboa.

Just after the goal, Stewart replaced Perez. 15 minutes later, Ramos gave the US the lead when Fernando Clavijo played the cross over the top of the box, which fell to Ramos at the top of the box. He hit it first-time off the bounce, and it snuck into the corner for the winner. The trio fit into the squad smoothly, which looked most evident on the third and final goal.

Wegerle, who didn’t even know the names of some of his teammates before kickoff, won the ball in midfield and received it back after a couple of US passes. After absorbing a tackle, he drove toward the box, and three Irish defenders converged. Wegerle played a back-heel through ball to Dooley, who was in on goal. Irish goalkeeper Gerry Peyton met Dooley, and Dooley poked it wide, where John Harkes was there to smash home the third in the 87th minute.

“For the first time, we are together,” US Coach Bora Milutinovic said. “We need to work for the future. I hope the best is yet to come.”

The victory set the team in motion, believing they could compete with some bigger teams (though Ireland, Portugal and Italy missing the 92 Euros being the reason they could play in the US Cup). According to Alan Rothenberg, president of the U.S.S.F., the search for outside help was a success. “Congress makes the rules on citizenship; we don't.” This match showed the importance of dual nationals and having the best team available. Stewart, Dooley and Wegerle all played at the World Cups in 1994 and 1998, being key to that Round-of-16 run in 1994.

World Cup Send-Off Win Over Turkey

On This Day in 2010, US Team Shows Promise in Penultimate World Cup Tune-Up Against Turkey

With less than two weeks before their 2010 World Cup opener against England, the United States Men's National Team faced mounting pressure after a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic on May 26. The defeat, which exposed defensive vulnerabilities that concerned both fans and coaching staff, came at a critical moment as coach Bob Bradley prepared to make his final roster decisions.

The team had entered its pre-World Cup training camp with several key players nursing injuries. Captain Carlos Bocanegra had recently undergone hernia surgery on May 5 in Munich, while defenders Jay DeMerit (abdominal strain) and Chad Marshall (hamstring strain) had been limited in early practices. By Saturday's final training session before the Czech match, all 30 players on the preliminary roster participated in full training for the first time.

The loss to the Czechs, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, highlighted defensive problems that needed immediate attention. Defenders Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Clarence Goodson, and Steve Cherundolo struggled throughout the match, allowing four goals despite Maurice Edu and Herculez Gomez scoring their first international goals. Following the defeat, Bradley cut seven players, announcing his final 23-man World Cup roster to face Turkey in the team's send-off match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The matchup against Turkey on May 29 represented the final on-field effort for the Americans before departing for South Africa. More than 50,000 tickets were sold for the Saturday afternoon contest at Lincoln Financial Field. Bradley made it clear this match would feature a distinctly more competitive lineup than the experimental squad he fielded against the Czech Republic.

"We'll have a team that, I think, will be close to our regular team," Bradley said before Friday's training session. "As we get closer to the England game, we always have to make decisions about what our best team will be for that game, so we'll use a tough matchup with Turkey to help us in that regard."

Before an overwhelmingly pro-American crowd of 55,407 at Lincoln Financial Field, the United States came from behind to defeat Turkey 2-1. The performance showed both promise and areas still needing improvement before the World Cup. The Turks struck first in the 27th minute. After U.S. right back Jonathan Spector was dispossessed upfield, Arda Turan capitalized on a counterattack, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Tim Howard from near the top of the penalty area after receiving a long through ball from Colin Kazim-Richards. Howard spent several moments in the first half visibly frustrated, barking at his defensive line.

"That's just the way Tim is," explained U.S. defender Jay DeMerit. "Timmy just likes to yell and get the guys going. And to be honest, there was a couple of times there when we needed it."

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Bradley made four pivotal substitutions to start the second half, removing defenders Spector and Goodson and midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark, while inserting defenders Onyewu and Cherundolo and midfielders Robbie Findley and Jose Torres.

"Whenever you start a game, things need to be sorted out on the field," Bradley explained. "Oftentimes, there's a period of time where you just need to play through things, and then the game starts to open up and you can take advantage."

The adjustments paid immediate dividends. In the 58th minute, the Americans leveled the score on a brilliantly executed sequence. DeMerit sent a long ball to Findley, who made a precise pass to Landon Donovan sprinting down the right side. Donovan rounded goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, drawing him off his line, before crossing to Jozy Altidore, who slammed the ball into the open net from 5 yards for his ninth goal in 25 international appearances.

"Findley coming on with his pace was forcing the defense to drop back, so me and Landon were able to get into those pockets," explained Clint Dempsey. "And also bringing Jose into the game, he was able to get on the ball, and I thought he looked very confident and helped keep possession for us and caused them to tire a little bit."

In the 75th minute, the Americans completed their comeback. The winning goal began with Cherundolo's throw-in deep in Turkish territory. Donovan received the ball, turned toward the middle of the field, and passed ahead to Dempsey. Fighting off defender Sabri Sarioglu, Dempsey muscled the ball past Turkey's oncoming keeper from about 10 yards.

"I knew it was going to be a 50-50 challenge with the defender," Dempsey said. "I tried to kind of absorb the hit so I was able to get good balance. I didn't want to go in too hard because I didn't want to kick the ball away from me or have the goalie pick it up, so I tried to absorb the hit and get a good bounce."

After the match, the American players lingered on the field, waving to adoring red-white-and-blue-clad fans. They hoped to make a similar victory lap when games counted the following month. Following the victory, Bradley acknowledged his team wasn't "sharp enough" in the game's first 45 minutes but then understood how to push the tempo "in an intelligent way."

"I think we accomplished everything that we would have wanted here," Bradley said. "The type of game we were in today pushed them very hard."

The Americans departed the next day for South Africa, where they would face Australia in their final friendly on June 5, one week before their World Cup opener against England on June 12. That final tune-up was another confidence booster as the U.S. defeated Australia 3-1 in Roodepoort, South Africa. 

Edson Buddle, who hadn't been in the national team picture just months earlier, scored in the fourth and 31st minutes for his first two international goals. Herculez Gomez added another goal in second-half injury time. Despite the victory, defensive concerns persisted. Tim Cahill scored for Australia in the 19th minute, and the American backline sometimes appeared shaky.

"We're definitely moving in the right direction," said Cherundolo, who had taken over from Spector at right back. "We still have a few things to work out."

Coach Bradley acknowledged the need for improvement in "the coordination of the defense" as the team prepared for their highly anticipated World Cup opener against England. Nevertheless, the American players' consecutive victories against Turkey and Australia filled them with confidence as they approached the tournament.

"We don't fear them," Donovan said of England. "We feel they're a team we can compete with."