AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Walker Zimmerman wagged his finger in the air from where he lay sprawled out on the ground. He shook his head and yelled, “No, no, no, no, no!” But it was to no avail. The referee was already pointing to the penalty spot.
The United States had been leading Wales by the narrowest of margins in the teams’ return to the World Cup when, with roughly 10 minutes, Zimmerman slid into the legs of Gareth Bale and sent the Welsh superstar tumbling to the grass.
Soon Bale was on his feet again, blasting his penalty kick into the right corner of the net, the goal that helped Wales snatch a 1-1 draw that may have suited both teams, but will have really pleased only one of them.