It Took an El Pasoan to Finally Have USMNT Score Big in Qualifier

By now, you know who Ricardo Pepi is. He's the 18 year old former El Pasoan who had been playing for Dallas FC. Last night, he made his debut in the US Men's National Team and was named Man of the Match!

Playing against Honduras, Pepi scored the game winning goal for the USMNT and he also had a pair of assists. The Americans beat Honduras 4-1 in the World Cup Qualifier game; giving the USMNT another three points, and now totaling five points- which puts them in a tie for second in their group with Canada and Panama.

Is Pepi what the men's team needed to be able to make it to the World Cup? It took an 18 year old all the way from El Paso to have them actually score?! Of course not. It's just nice to see that an El Pasoan can possibly make it to the World Cup- and it would be nice to see our men in the World Cup this time. You know, because they didn't make it the last time? I'm still a little salty about that.

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On October 7th the USMNT plays in Austin against Jamaica, then on October 10th, they will play at Panama before heading to Columbus for their match against Costa Rica on the 13th. On November 12th they head to Cincinnati for a match against Mexico. With the great work from Pepi, it wouldn't surprise me if they put the 18 year old striker in for these games as well. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised that the Borderland is full of talent.

Finally, I'm seeing the USMNT come back to life!

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.