The United States Men's National Team looked dead to rights after going down 3-1 in the 53rd minute to the Netherlands during Friday's international friendly match. However, the last 20 minutes were a different story after the squad's substitutes inspired an unlikely comeback.
Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar kicked things off with a header in the 27th minute after a masterful cross from fellow striker Memphis Depay. The United States answered back quickly thanks to striker Gyasi Zardes' first career international goal in the 33rd minute on an assist from Fabian Johnson. However, the Netherlands would soon take control.
Huntelaar netted his second header of the game in the 49th minute. Defender Gregory Van Der Wiel delivered a long cross that cleared defender John Brooks and allowed Huntelaar to blast it past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Four minutes later, Huntelaar took a shot on goal just outside the penalty area, which hit Depay in the chest and deflected off the right post and into the net to give the Dutch a 3-1 less than 10 minutes into the second half.
But the Dutch defense began to break down late in the game.
Jurgen Klinsmann called on DeAndre Yedlin, Mix Diskerud, Daniel Williams, Jordan Morris and Bobby Wood to provide some fresh legs in the second half - a decision that would pay its dividends late in the contest.
Brooks and midfielder Michael Bradley got the U.S. back into the game when he led the charge down the middle of the Netherlands' defense. Bradley provided a tremendous through ball to Yedlin in the right side of the penalty area and Yedlin delivered a cross to Brooks, who blew it by goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to cut the Dutch lead by one.
Time kept winding down and it soon appeared as if the U.S. would suffer their fifth loss in their last eight international friendlies.
However, Williams mirrored Huntelaar's second goal, taking a chance on an unlikely shot just outside the box. His hard shot deflected off striker Luuk de Jong and cruised into the upper right corner of the net to tie the game 3-3 in the 89th minute.
De Jong nearly gave the Dutch the lead moments later when his header was saved by Guzan and his rebound shot went off the crossbar, but Bradley then led his team down the field to continue to series of unlikely events.
Bradley diced through the defense and, what felt like déjà vu from the team's second goal, delivered a through ball in the right side of the box to Morris. The striker then sent a cross over to Wood, who struck the ball past Cillessen to give the U.S. the 4-3 advantage and the win just seconds later.
Woods' goal was the latest game-winning goal by an American against a European team since 1999, according ESPNFC.
Here is the full highlight reel from the match:
