It was an exhilarating and ephemeral moment born out of opportunism and instinct, yet underpinned by years of poise, fitful progress, perseverance and quiet self belief. We remember and celebrate the moments, of course. They’re the highlights that go viral, and they help define tournaments, careers and legacies. But even when they seem to come from nothing, like a goal scored just 20 seconds into a game, it’s worth considering how much mass sits beneath the surface.
It was a must-win game to whatever extent the U.S. men’s national team wanted to avoid facing Mexico before the Concacaf Gold Cup final.