The first round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup came and went and the US lost 2-1 to Honduras. Looking at the big picture, our homegrown (read: "mostly MLS") talent struggles to break down physical and well-organized defensive teams. This could become an even bigger problem in the next qualifiers, against Costa Rica in Commercial City on Friday and in Mexico City on Tuesday.

However, for US fans, what really frustrates us is that Honduras played like the US of a decade ago: put bodies behind the ball and counter when you can. Only a moment of Clint Dempsey brilliance could keep fans from pressing the snooze button.

So, the present plods along. We miss Landon Donovan, but life goes on. Every US fan knows that one or two unexpected players will rise to the occasion and be a hero for a day in World Cup qualification. Why? History. Inevitably, some European-based player will dip in form, get injured, or face a club-country conflict. In the past, unheralded players have stepped up to the plate against Latin American and Caribbean foes, if then to fade before the big tournament. Here are four such players who enjoyed their moments in the sun.

Brian Ching

A glance at Ching's frame and his collection of MLS trophies lead to an obvious assumption: this guy must have scored lots of goals for the US national team. Ching did make the 2006 US World Cup roster but he never really clicked at international level. He scored his fair share of headed goals for the Houston Dynamo but seemed to lack the tackling and aggression needed to handle international center-backs. Still, in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in 2004, he came through in the clutch.

In the opening game, Kingston rocked and Jamaica led the Yanks 1-0. Precious time ticked off the clock and the US's unbeaten record against the Reggae Boyz appeared destined to end. Then, in the 88th minute, Cobi Jones (!) found some space on the right and whipped in a cross. Donovan received the ball, but didn't shoot. Instead, he laid it off for Ching. The Hawaiian calmly took a touch with his left before firing the equaliser into the roof of the net. He would only score 10 more goals in a US jersey. Never in a World Cup.

Steve Ralston

Connoisseurs of New England football will note a startling fact: Ralston toiled on the Revolution's right wing for seven years, but maybe played his best football as an elder statesmen in the center of the park. Enganche. Enlace. Mediapunta. If he had grown up in South America and not St. Louis, would he have played as a creative mid since his youth? We will never know. However, his savory crosses and feathery touches only earned him a few US call-ups.

In his biggest game for the US, Ralston stepped up in a big way. In 2005, the US faced Mexico at home in an important World Cup qualifier. The first half ended scoreless. Nervousness filled the air. The US kept the ball well enough, but every misplaced pass seemed to turn into a Mexican counter. Then, in the 53rd minute, Eddie Lewis whipped in a free-kick from the right, Oguchi Onyewu's header hit the post and Ralston, in the right place at the right time, calmly nodded the ball into a vacant net. DaMarcus Beasley scored an insurance goal later on, but Ralston's goal was the decision-maker: the US qualified, at home, against rival Mexico.

It was perfect. But Ralston's goal, the fourth of his US career, would also be his last. He wouldn't make the World Cup roster and his New England Revolution would forever be the bridesmaids of MLS Cup.

Chris Armas

For Chicago Fire fans, Armas's shaved dome was a welcome sight. His tenacious tackling, sublime positioning and crafty passing formed the heartbeat of the Fire for almost a decade. In his first year with the club, 1998, they won the MLS Cup. He was named to the MLS Best XI four years in a row, from 1998 to 2001. In World Cup qualifying for Korea/Japan 2002, Armas played regularly and, despite a home loss to Honduras, the team qualified comfortably. Things looked pretty promising.

Then it happened. Just before the World Cup, the US played a series of friendlies. Against Uruguay, the US won 2-1 but lost Armas to a knee injury. A scan revealed the worst: an ACL tear. Just like that, the chance to play at the highest level was snatched from his grasp. Pablo Mastroeni dutifully filled in, and the US went on a Cinderella run. They even beat Mexico in the round of 16. Armas could only watch from home.

To his credit, Armas battled back from injury and was a standby player for the 2006 squad. However, he has the dubious distinction of being the most-capped US player to never go to a World Cup. For a man used to the captain's armband, it's not a badge he bears proudly.

Benny Feilhaber

Benny Feilhaber, front-row center, prepares to take on Italy in South Africa in 2009. Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

OK, so Benny has gone to a World Cup and his greatest moment occurred during the Gold Cup, not in World Cup qualification. That either makes him more tragic or less so, depending on your priorities. Still, few can deny the brilliance of his thunder volley that doomed Mexico and won the 2007 Gold Cup for the US. The strike was magnificent because:

1) It came from a boot that did not belong to Landon Donovan.

2) It was breathtaking beyond anything even Landon had done. This may be sacrilege, but it brought to mind Zinedine Zidane's Champions League-winning volley in 2002. The sky looked to be the limit for Benny.

Then the sky fell. His career arch took a frustrating bend and ended up in a dark alley. He went to England in search of playing time, then Scandinavia. Finally, he returned to MLS with the Revolution. However, the league laid bare his weakness: Benny lacked the ball-winning to play central mid and also lacked the up-and-down conditioning to play wide on the wings. He is an all-star in an all-time offense role, but the modern game does not afford such luxuries. Benny blips around national team radar, but his international career is on life support.

In conclusion

Serendipity. Chance. Fate. The story of these players reminds us that, despite our best machinations, nobody can pinpoint the sure trail to success. Somewhere, a player off the grid lurks, waiting to get his chance and don Superman's cape, if only for a game. Hopefully. The loss to Honduras was frustrating, but Jürgen Klinsmann will hopefully unearth a few rough diamonds. If history is any guide, we'll need them. And soon.

Elliott Turner blogs about soccer at Futfanatico.com

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