Gareth Bale was Wales' hero yet again as he won and converted a penalty to earn Cymru a point from a thrilling contest in their first World Cup match for 64 years.
Having been tripped in the box, Bale nervelessly stepped up to fire home from the spot eight minutes from time in front of the many Welsh fans in Qatar.
The Welsh had been second best for the entire first half of the Group B clash, with the US taking a deserved lead when Timothy Weah slotted home from a Christian Pulisic pass.
Wales improved in the second period, and after Ben Davies and impressive substitute Kieffer Moore went close, Bale blasted home to spark delirium.
Here are the game's talking points.
1. Wales struggle in the spotlight, until Bale delivers
This was an enormous occasion for Wales, both for the journey the current squad of players has gone on and for a nation desperate to see them on the world stage.
As Bale said at their press conference on Sunday, World Cups were no fun for Welsh kids growing up as they didn't have a team to support, but a new generation have got used to three tournaments in six years, and now the grandest stage of all.
Did they freeze in the first half then? No, they were just ran all over by a vibrant team.
Wales couldn't live with the US for much of the half, and if you want to be critical of Rob Page there appeared to be a lack of a gameplan to get at their opponents.
But they have Bale, and where there is Bale there is hope.
The man is simply a Welsh superhero, and when he stepped up to take that penalty there was only one outcome.
The greatest footballer his country has ever produced, Bale - who was quiet for much of the game - is a man for moments these days, and what a moment this was.
2. Timothy Weah outshines his Dad
It can't be easy having a Ballon d'Or winner for a Dad.
Weah has lived with that reality all his life, with the Liberian legend George a name known all throughout the world as one of Africa's most famous players.
He never played at a World Cup though.
Weah has now done that and scored, excellently firing home following a brilliant pass from the superb, almost statesman-like Pulisic, who seems to take on a greater sense of responsibility for his country than he does for his club Chelsea.
He was the conductor for the US here, and Weah the front man as he prodded home.
Dad must have been proud.
3. Wales wanted Moore, and nearly got it
There was a real chalk and cheese element to the Wales performance, with the half-time introduction of Moore completely changing the dynamic of the side.
The Bournemouth forward had been identified by the US camp as someone they had to keep an eye on, and so they were probably delighted that his name wasn't in the starting XI when it was announced.
Wales missed him just as much in the first half as they improved with him on the pitch in the second, with that header going agonisingly over the bar moments after Davies had also come close when his headed effort was tipped over by Matt Turner.
In Moore though, Page surely has his first starter for Friday's Iran game already.
4. An America built on speed
Before this match much was made of the USMNT's youth and vitality, something that threatened a Wales side that have a few players past their best and a few more who don't enjoy regular club football.
That difference was apparent for much of the first half, with a vibrant US attack threatening Wales and almost taking the lead in farcical fashion when Weah's cross was headed toward his own goal by Joe Rodon, who had Wayne Hennessey to thank for the save.
Even before his goal Weah initially caught the eye in the first half but not as much as Valencia's 19-year-old talent Yunus Musah, who ran the show in midfield and displayed a maturity beyond his years.
5. An anthem you'd wait 64 years for
We knew it was going to be special. It had been 64 years in the making after all.
But when Wales' players, staff and fans joined together for Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau it marked the the next stage in this extraordinary development of the national team.
Wales were 117th in the world rankings 11 years ago, below Haiti, and yet here they were on the global stage and singing a song that, while it might be difficult to understand if you don't speak Welsh, can certainly convey an enormous sense of passion whatever your language.
Here were little Wales, halfway around the world, and making an enormous racket.
It was spine-tingling.
