Throwback Thursday: Bobby Wood beats the Netherlands and Germany in one week

Today’s Throwback Thursday takes us back to the first part of June 2015. The USWNT had just begun what would be their 3rd run to a Women’s World Cup title, but the USMNT had a couple matches of their own. Then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann scheduled difficult matches for his team against the Netherlands followed by a trip to face his home nation of Germany. For the United States, it was a test against a strong team in the Oranje and the defending World Cup champions in Die Mannschaft. But, what American fans realized that week is that through it all, one man was ready to be a giant killer. That man was Bobby Wood.

The first match was June 5, 2015 against the Dutch in Amsterdam. It was a wild match where both teams traded goals early in the 1st half, with the score tied 1-1 at the half. Early in the 2nd half, the Dutch scored twice in 4 minutes, and most felt that the USMNT were out of it. A John Brooks goal in the 70th minute gave the team some hope, and in the 89th minute, Danny Williams netted the equalizer to make it 3-3. It was an incredible comeback to get the result, but Bobby Wood decided that the team wasn’t done yet.

The Hawaiian had done it, netting the. game winner just a minute after Williams’ equalizer to shock the Netherlands. It was an incredible victory for a squad that never quit after going down 3-1.

5 days later, the team was in Cologne to face Germany, the world champions. The champs got on the board early with a Mario Gotze goal in the 12th minute. Still, the Americans clawed back, and Mix Diskerud tied it up just before halftime. The second half remained tied and there was still room left for a hero to emerge. Bobby Wood put the team on his back again.

There it was, another game winner for Bobby Wood, his 2nd time that week. He’s scored some more great goals for the USMNT since then, but nothing will replace the week he toppled the Netherlands and Germany on the road.