American soccer fans have named Landon Donovan’s first half goal against Brazil in the Confed Cup final as the US Soccer “Goal of the Year”. This goal was, for me, a definitive evolutionary step for US Soccer. Dempsey gave us a glimmer of hope with the opening goal, but Donovan showed a glimpse at the future of our sport. I sometimes forget that we lost the game.

Congrats go out to Donovan. Well deserved.

photo credit: Dylan Martinez/Reuters