Watch Clint Dempsey become the 2nd USMNT player to score 50 goals

Clint Dempsey scored his 50th goal in a US Men's National Team shirt from the penalty spot, putting the US ahead against Costa Rica after just nine minutes of play.

In Clint Dempsey's storied career, he's scored some real corkers, and his penalty was a impeccably taken one, typical of the man second in the US's all-time goalscoring charts. But it was his assist for tonight's second goal that was the true Deuce signature.

Dempsey's always had a penchant for the spectacular, from his first touch and goal against Ghana in the 2014 World Cup, to his looping volley to doom (my beloved) Juventus for Fulham in the Europa League. On this night, where the US needed a win to ensure their continued participation in the first ever Copa America Centenario held in their country, Clint Dempsey stepped up once again to deliver for his nation.

Running at the heart of the defense, Dempsey took on three defenders, driving forward until joined by Alejandro Bedoya and Jermaine Jones. Cristiano Ronaldo's chop has long been an overpowered move on FIFA, and Clint Dempsey knows this. Leaving his defender searching for answers to the secrets of the universe (42), Dempsey then touched it past a second defender, only to have the fruits of his labor gladly shared by Jermaine Jones with a wonderfully curled finish.

The US went up 2-0, and the rout was on. Clint Dempsey's penalty definitely changed the game, and Costa Rica lost all semblance of tactical discipline after the first goal, but Clint Dempsey doing what he's been doing for so long in the red, white and blue is what blasted this game wide open.

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