On the Pitch
26 USMNT Moments, Past to Present: Conor Casey’s Night
In Honduras, the U.S. Men’s National Team qualifies for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
This is 26 USMNT Moments: Past to Present, a U.S. Soccer content series that covers 26 defining moments in U.S. Men's National Team history. From inspired victories to stunning goals, and the stars and hidden heroes who made them possible, each chapter reminds us that our dreams on the pitch are worth chasing. Together, they’ve built toward the biggest moment yet: the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
U.S. men’s soccer may never have another hero like Conor Casey.
Casey scored his only two goals for the team in one of its most critical matches: a 2010 World Cup qualifier in Honduras in 2009. The veteran forward’s unlikely strikes secured a 3-2 win in front of more than 37,000 in attendance at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in Pedro San Sula and sealed the sixth consecutive World Cup appearance for the U.S.
“To be able just to have the opportunity to play with these guys this night and to seal up the World Cup slot, it's huge. " Casey told U.S. Soccer in 2021.
A scoreless first half was an unlikely precursor to a completely wild second frame.
Honduras took a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute when Julio Cesar de Leon slammed an 18-yard free kick into the goal’s upper left corner.
Casey hadn’t scored for the U.S. in 14 previous appearances.
His first goal wasn’t beautiful, but it was enough to tie the match in the 58th minute.
Oguchi Onyewu hit a long ball toward Honduras’ goal. Charlie Davies won the first header at the top of the 18-yard box, sending the ball deeper toward the goal. Casey and Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares both challenged for the loose ball.
The ball bounced off the back of Casey’s neck and into the goal.
“I spun and caught a glimpse of it just as it crossed the line with no flags raised,” Casey told U.S. Soccer. “It was my first goal for the National Team, and luckily I got to see it go in.”
The goal was a poacher’s finish.
Casey’s next, which gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute, was more clinical. He ran onto a through ball from Landon Donovan in the center of the box, waited on goalkeeper Noel Valladares to commit, and slotted a shot into the lower right corner.
Donovan gave the U.S. a 3-1 lead in the 69th minute with a free kick from the left that appeared to fly over Valladares’ head and into the goal. Casey was fouled to give Donovan the free kick.
The next 20 minutes tested the U.S.
Honduras cut its deficit to 3-2 on another goal by De Leon in the 78th minute.
The crowd roaring, Honduras continued attacking.
Stu Holden was called for a handball – there wasn’t much he could have done because the cross bounced right in front of him and into him – to set up a penalty kick in the 87th minute.
Carlos Pavon stepped to the spot with a chance to tie the match at 3.
Pavon’s right-footed shot sailed over Tim Howard’s goal. Howard dove to his right. He stood up and put his hands on his face in relief after the ball sailed toward the track that circled the pitch.
Honduras and Pavon weren’t yet done.
Both had one more chance two minutes later, but Pavon’s header, like his penalty kick, wasn’t on frame.
Though he ultimately would not be selected for the 2010 World Cup team, Casey’s brace against Honduras propelled the USMNT to sport’s biggest stage.
Doug Roberson is the owner and reporter for Soccer with Doug, a website focused on professional soccer in Atlanta. Doug has covered the sport in the city for the past 17 years. He also has the Soccer with Doug podcast.
