LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Benny Feilhaber fully admits his game-winning goal against Mexico in the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup Final was beyond anything he could imagine. After all, he didn't even know if he would play significant minutes in the concluding game of the tournament, let alone start.
"I was obviously very happy with the opportunity that I had," Feilhaber recalled to Concacaf.com in a phone interview.
Feilhaber had just gotten his first national team cap a few months earlier in March and had only spent a few months within the U.S. national team fold. Yet, with Michael Bradley suspended for the game against El Tricolor, Feilhaber seized his moment and delivered one of the tournament's signature moments. With the game squared at 1-1, Feilhaber hit a volley off a rebound to score for the Yanks in the 73rd minute. It was a stunning rocket to which Mexico had no answer. The U.S. would go on to secure its fourth Gold Cup title.
Feilhaber acknowledged with the U.S. trailing 1-0 after the first half and the midfielder not playing at his best, he was worried that then-U.S. manager Bob Bradley would pull him out of the game. Those fears were magnified when Bradley said there would be a change in midfield with Ricardo Clark set to come on. Fortunately for Feilhaber and the Stars and Stripes, Bradley elected to stick with the then-22-year-old. It was a decision that paid dividends for the U.S.
"At that point, at halftime, I remembered thinking I had to reward Bob for his belief in me," Feilhaber said. "I do remember going into that second half with something to prove."
"It meant a lot to me about the belief he had in me. The belief that I could potentially provide something obviously on the offensive end. I think that gave me an extra confidence boost to go out there and do something."
It would be the second and last goal that Feilhaber would score in a decade with the U.S. national team, but it will forever be part of the team's history.
"I don't think the reality of it happening so fast [after his first call-up] hit me as much as the gravity of the moment," Feilhaber explained. "I'm playing in a final with the national team against our biggest rival. Not only that but people forget that final took us to the 2009 Confederations Cup. It meant a ticket to playing against some of the biggest teams in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc... It was a massive moment to not only beat our rival, but be able to get to the Confederations Cup and then we were able to achieve something pretty special in the Confederations Cup as well."
"It was a big moment and I never expected to find myself in that position at that time."
With the U.S. up against Mexico in another Gold Cup final, Feilhaber sees some similarities between his rise with the U.S. national team and some of the young players currently on the squad. Feilhaber, who now is one of the coaches at Sporting Kansas City, has enjoyed what he's seen from midfielder Gianluca Busio and goalkeeper Matt Turner.
"The guy that I most relate to is probably our own guy here in Kansas City, Gianluca Busio. He's done everything really well," Feilhaber said. "From what he's done with our academy all the way up till what he's been doing with the first team [at Sporting KC], especially this season. He's keeping the outside noise out and now has gotten his chance with the [U.S. senior team] and I think he's doing really well each and every game."
Feilhaber sees some similarities between his playing days and Busio, though he feels the 19-year-old is more advanced than where he was at the same age.
"He's far more mature than I was at his age, because I wasn't playing professionally until I was 20, " Feilhaber said. "But I do think some of the things he does on the field remind me of myself. I think his greatest qualities are some of the things I didn't have so much. He runs all over the field and he's got an engine. He can cover ground and does things defensively that I don't think I used to do, especially at that age. So he's got a big leg up on me and I only see big things from him in the future."
Turner has the tournament lead in saves and Feilhaber isn't surprised by the New England Revolution star's success in this tournament. Similar to Feilhaber's rise, Turner only got his first call-up in January 2021. Yet, that hasn't stopped him from being arguably the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
"I think he's very good. I got to train with him at New England right before I retired. I saw him in person and he's not only a great goalie, but a great teammate and great person," Feilhaber said. "It's not surprising to me, but he's obviously opened up a lot of eyes out there. That's who he is."
"I'd be very surprised if we don't see him for many years on the national team."
Feilhaber expects Turner to be at his best in Sunday's final, but is hoping the U.S. as a whole can contain Mexico's talented midfield.
"[Mexico] is able to build from the back and create opportunities through possession. They can pounce on you as well, they find ways to steal the ball or create turnovers from dangerous positions," Feilhaber said. "I think the [U.S.] has to be solid in the back. You can't ask Matt to make one save after another because Mexico will make you pay."
After an impressive win in the Concacaf Nations League final, Feilhaber hopes the Stars and Stripes can build on it in the final in Las Vegas on Sunday.
"It's a big thing to prove that we're right there with them," Feilhaber said. "Against Mexico, every game is big."
