The U.S. men’s national team came away disappointed with a draw against Wales in their World Cup opener. If it wasn’t for an all-timer of a tactical foul from Kellyn Acosta, they may have come away devastated.
Acosta’s moment came in the ninth and final minute of stoppage time, with the game tied 1-1. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner came way off his line to head away a long ball over the top.
It looked like a heads-up clearance by Turner, until it landed right at the foot of the exact player the U.S. didn’t want it to find: Gareth Bale. Five yards into the USMNT half and with Turner miles off his line, Bale was set for a dramatic empty-netter to complete his brace and win the game for Wales.
Seriously, look where Turner is here.
But that’s when Acosta did the only thing he could at that moment: the LAFC midfielder manhandled his club teammate and sent him tumbling to the ground.
Acosta earned the greatest yellow card of his career, and the match ended 1-1.
“It’s a great foul,” U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman told reporters after the game. “It’s professional. It’s important to prevent moments of transition like that so I have no problem with that.”
Amazingly, Acosta kind of called his shot before the game. When asked about Bale, the U.S. midfielder said: “He’s a guy that we definitely have to have eyes on, a guy that we literally [have to] start kicking him around the field and make him feel us and limit his time and space.”
When Bale needed to be kicked, Acosta was there to deliver. The USMNT may just survive the group stage because of it.
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) November 21, 2022
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