Over nearly 89 eventful minutes on Thursday evening, a young U.S. men's national team from which much is expected had trouble mastering the fine margins that often define rivalries and determine elimination matches. Facing an experienced and fearless Honduran side in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League semifinal, the favored U.S. was in the game but never really in control of it. And after missing several promising scoring chances and nearly falling behind, a penalty shootout loomed.
Then the welcome breakthrough came. Substitute striker Jordan Siebatcheu, playing in just his fourth senior international, scored a maiden U.S. goal that’s arguably the most significant of coach Gregg Berhalter’s two-and-a-half-year tenure.