If you've followed soccer around the DMV at any point during the last few years, you've known of Rodney Wallace. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Wallace moved with his family to the D.C. area at age 9, was raised in Rockville, went to The Bullis School, helped Maryland to a national championship in 2008, and was drafted by D.C. United with the 6th overall pick of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. After making 35 appearances for the Black-and-Red, Wallace was traded to the Portland Timbers last November 24 (along with a fourth-round pick) for Dax McCarty and allocation money.
Wallace is in the United States on a green card and consequently is not eligible to play for the U.S. National Team. Which is why when he scored on his international debut Friday night, it was for the country of his birth. It also turned out to be the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Costa Rica over a largely lackluster U.S. team. The goal sequence begins at 1:30 of the video below.
In happier news for D.C. United fans, Dwayne De Rosario didn't seem to lose his touch over the international break, converting a 51st minute penalty that turned out to be the game-winning goal in Canada's 4-1 romp over St. Lucia. That whole sequence begins at the 0:24 mark.