Less than a week ago, all was well with the United States men's national team.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's squad had a successful summer, reaching the third-place game of Copa America Centenario. The early fall saw youngsters like Christian Pulisic and Lynden Gooch emerge as solid parts of the present and future, while players such as Sacha Kljestan and Julian Green came in from the cold.
Tim Howard was in top form, with Geoff Cameron and John Brooks looking like a center-back pairing that could solidify the back line until the 2018 World Cup and beyond. The momentum, you'd have to say, was heading in the right direction.