After losing 2-0 to Canada last month, the pressure was on the USMNT to turn things around as the Stars and Stripes look to avoid missing out on a second straight World Cup.
Fortunately for Gregg Berhalter's side, Team USA were able to rebound in their latest World Cup qualifier, beating Honduras 3-0 to help them move to second spot in the table, four points behind league leaders Canada and tied on points with Mexico, who they'll face in a tense showdown in March.
However, the USMNT's win, which saw Weston McKennie, Walker Zimmerman, and Christian Pulisic all get on the scoresheet, has now been shrouded in some controversy.
Not because of anything the players actually did on the pitch, but because of the frigid temperatures both before and during the match.
For those not well aware, Minnesota is notoriously brutally cold at this time of year. Temperatures in the negatives are par for the course, and some reports indicate that Wednesday's game had readings of only 3 degrees Fahrenheit (or -16 degrees Celsius) just ahead of kick-off.
Considering Honduras doesn't get that anywhere near that cold, it's not surprising that Hernan Dario Gomez's struggled miserably throughout. In fact, two players, Luis Lopez and Romell Quioto, actually had to be subbed off at half-time due to hypothermia.
However, USMNT coach Berhalter has hit back at any criticism, noting that "We provided Honduras and their staff and the referees with warm weather gear. [In addition], when we go down to those countries [like Honduras], and it's 90 degrees in 90% dew point and it's unbearable humidity and guys are getting dehydrated and cramping up and getting heat exhaustion, [we accept] that's the nature of our competition."
Some USMNT players decided to try to find some amusement in having to play in Arctic-like conditions, with Timothy Weah posting the following on his IG account:
The loss simply heaped more misery on a Honduras side who have failed to win a single game so far in World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, the USMNT will next look forward to facing familiar foes Mexico in a highly-anticipated showdown in March.
