The soccer cycle never stops. The World Cup happens every four years. There is a Women’s World Cup every four years as well. Throw in the Confederations Cup, the Gold Cup and other domestic and international tournaments and there is enough soccer to keep fans occupied seven days a week and 365 days a year.
One tournament that is currently going on that has captured the attention of soccer fans across the globe is the Copa America. The biennial competition is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the globe, pitting the top teams from South American against each other. Each year, a few non-South American teams are invited. The United States has been invited three times, most recently having competed for the Copa America in 2007.
While the USMNT roster for that squad is littered with players who either had or continue to have standout careers in Major League Soccer or abroad, one player currently plies his trade for Sporting KC fans.
READ: Benny Feilhaber moves to third in #MLSAllStar midfielder voting
That player is none other than Benny Feilhaber. Four days after scoring one of the most memorable goals in U.S. Soccer history, Feilhaber played 90 minutes in a 4-1 loss to an Argentina squad that featured Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez and a 20-year-old Lionel Messi. The 22-year-old midfielder was in the thick of action playing a majestic through-ball that split the Argentine center backs and found then-Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson. [Seriously, watch the highlight package above to see this pass.] Johnson was quickly bowled over in the box by a pair of Argentina defenders and calmly converted the ensuing penalty kick to give the USMNT an early 1-0 lead.
The United States lost the second group stage match to Paraguay 3-1 before falling to Colombia 1-0 in their tournament finale. For today’s Throwback Thursday, throwing it back to the 2007 tournament, the last time the USMNT participated in Copa America. Thankfully, American soccer fans won’t have to wait too long to see that happen again.
