LA Galaxy striker Gyasi Zardes scored his first career international goal as the United States earned a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Netherlands on Friday at Amsterdam Arena.
Bobby Wood scored the winner for the U.S. deep into stoppage time to give the Americans their first ever victory against the Netherlands. Prior to the victory, the Dutch had defeated the Americans by a combined score of seven to one in the previous four matches.
Starting along the left side of U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 4-3-3 formation, the Hawthorne native was immediately active in testing the Netherlands’ defense. Zardes rattled off several opportunities but came closest in the 15th minute with a right-footed effort from the top of the bex that was saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
The USMNT may have started the match on the front foot, but it was the Dutch who struck first. In the 27th minute, the Dutch pulled ahead when Huntelaar capitalized on slack USMNT defending to nod a Memphis Depay cross past Brad Guzan for the opener.
The Americans equalized in the 33rd minute when Zardes finally broke through for his first career international goal. In the 33rd minute, the Galaxy Homegrown striker burst down the left side, and placed a Fabian Johnson cross past Cillessen with a right-footed volley. Zardes went 81 minutes in the match and now has a goal and an assist in five starts across six appearances for the United States in 2015.
At the start of the second half, the Dutch quickly pulled away as Huntelaar capitalized on space provided by Michael Orozco to give the Netherlands the lead in the 49th minute. Huntelaar turned distributor four minutes later when his shot deflected off Depay for the third goal for the Dutch.
The Americans’ dramatic rally began in the 70th minute when Michael Bradley charged up field on a counterattack and delivered a pinpoint ball to DeAndre Yedlin who crossed into Brooks who was waiting at the far post. Brooks’ goal was his first international tally since his dramatic game-winner against Ghana during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The USMNT notched the equalizer in the 89th minute when Danny Williams blasted a shot from the top of the penalty area past the Dutch goalkeeper. The game seemed destined for a draw but just a minute later, the Americans found their winner.
Once again, it was Bradley playing the conductor as the Toronto FC man found Jordan Morris along the right side. Morris then crossed the ball into Wood for the easy finish from close range.
The U.S. National Team returns to action next week when they face 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany in Cologne on June 10.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
