With just 19 minutes left in the United States’ opening World Cup match against Wales, fading international superstar Gareth Bale accepted a pass in front of the goal, was clipped by U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman, and dropped to the ground. A penalty was called, giving Bale, an aging world-class player, a penalty kick that he couldn’t possibly miss.
Bale’s penalty kick leveled the game at 1–1 after the U.S. spent 81 minutes playing physical, free-flowing soccer. As English soccer announcers are wont to say, the U.S. was asking all the questions. And they pulled ahead 36 minutes into the game when Christian Pulisic threaded a beautiful pass in to Tim Weah, who artfully dodged the Welsh goalie and put the U.S. ahead.
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