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Remember when Conor Casey put the USMNT in the World Cup?

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:34 p.m. ET

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Ryan Rosenblatt

Conor Casey is calling it a career. The 35-year-old has announced his retirement from professional soccer, ending a long and accomplished career. But while he may have played in the Bundesliga, won MLS Cup MVP as his team captured the title and was even an MLS Best XI selection, he will forever be remembered for one game.

It was October 10, 2009 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The United States needed a win to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and if they fell short, they would head into the final match of qualifying -- against a good Costa Rica team -- with their World Cup lives on the line. Casey was a surprise starter, getting the nod ahead of Jozy Altidore, which was not applauded by most fans. After all, Casey had never scored an international goal.

But on that day, he scored two. And he put the U.S. in the World Cup.

To go along with the two goals, Casey drew the foul for Landon Donovan's game-winning goal. He was the unanimous Man of the Match and the Americans' World Cup clinching hero.

Now, as Casey retires, those two goals go down as the only two that he ever scored for the national team. He played 19 matches for the U.S., but never found the net except in that trip to Honduras. On a night that went into American soccer history, Casey was the shining star.

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