The United States men's national team ended the year on a high note, as a late game-winning goal from Colorado Rapids homegrown Cole Bassett gave the Americans a 1-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in an international friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday.

The USMNT struggled to get much going in the attack in their final match before the January window of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying. But, thanks to Bassett's 89th-minute rebound finish on his senior international debut, they escaped a depressing 0-0 draw. The encounter took a turn in the first half when Bosnia and Herzegovina's Amar Begic was sent off for a studs-up tackle on USMNT midfielder Kellyn Acosta's ankle in the 40th minute, giving the hosts a man advantage for the rest of the game.

Before the sent-off, the Yanks had two notable chances in the first half. The first came in the 14th minute when Atlanta United fullback Brooks Lennon fired in a cross that FC Dallas striker Ricardo Pepi couldn't quite direct in. Jordan Morris of the Seattle Sounders had a clear chance with a 31st-minute header, but Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Cetkovic saved his effort with a kick-save.

The game stayed scoreless until the last minutes when Bassett scored the game-winning goal. After Jonathan Gomez's original shot was spilled in front of the goal, the 20-year-old forward pounced on the rebound, enabling him an easy tap-in that clinched the victory.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Jimmy Vasquez]