Soccer News: Bobby Wood’s Winning Goal Leads USA To Victory Over Germany
A substitute player coming off the bench makes the world of difference. Scoring just before the end of the match — in the 87th minute and giving the U.S. Men’s National Team its first road win against the 2014 World Cup Champions in a friendly, Bobby Wood’s goal was the all-important tie-breaker in this historic win against long time rival Germany.
History was made this week – the United States’ 2-1 victory against the highly revered world champions – was another stroke of genius accredited to Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann who added Wood to his roster. Wood was another young talent playing in Europe but was raised in America who Klinsmann selected for the U.S. Men’s National Team and – in hindsight – was an amazing choice.
Wood came off the bench to strike the ball 23 yards with his left foot and send it sailing by the goalie to the back of the net.
If once was not enough, Wood also scored another late minute goal in the 90th minute to lead the USA to victory over the Netherlands on Friday. Becoming known for his skillful low shots into the back of the net, Wood is claiming headlines around the world.
A Hawaiian-born forward, Wood played soccer in Southern California as a youth player before going to play professional soccer in Germany for Erzgebirge Auehas, a soccer club in the third division.
Born in November, 1992, Wood played as a young boy in 1999 for the Powder Edge SC in Honolulu, Hawaii and then in 2004 started with Cal South’s Irvine Strikers in Southern California. Wood played with the Irvine Strikers until 2007 when he joined the 1860 Munich, a Munich based German soccer club.
It may be too soon to tell, but Wood could be the new breakout star of the US Men’s National Team.
According to Klinsmann, “Bobby is a work in progress. An entertaining game with a happy ending with us,” Klinsmann said. “To win against the world champion in Germany is something special, but we deserved it. It’s an important step toward the Gold Cup.”
According to US Soccer, speaking of the faith that Klinsmann showed to him, Wood said, “It’s just an honor. I’m happy that Jurgen, after such a tough year, he kept calling me back. I’m happy I got to repay him and the team. I’m just going to enjoy the moment right now and I’m happy that we got the win.”
Photo Credit: U.S. Soccer
