Cristian Roldan seizes his USMNT moment: "He is what we need"

“Soccer can change so fast.”

Those were Cristian Roldan ’s first words to TNT sideline reporter Melissa Ortiz after his star turn in the US men’s national team ’s 2-1 comeback win over Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday night. And he knows all too well how small instants in a match can turn into massive moments.

The Seattle Sounders icon has built a memorable career on winning such situations, minding the small margins on his way to two MLS Cup triumphs, this year’s Leagues Cup trophy, a historic Concacaf Champions Cup (née League) title in 2022, a place on the United States’ 2022 FIFA World Cup squad and so many more highlights over the past decade. And he seems to have done it yet again.

Just like man-of-the-match goal scorer Haji Wright, Roldan made the pl