The 21-year-old U.S. national team newcomer could not have picked a more dramatic time to score his first international goal.
Entering this World Cup, dual-citizen defender John Brooks wasn't even cap-tied to the USA. Now he is an American soccer hero.
A halftime substitute Monday for Matt Besler, the 21-year-old center back made just his fifth international appearance since debuting in August — and his first in a competitive match. His mere presence on the roster caused controversy last month when he was chosen over steady veteran Clarence Goodson. His inclusion versus Ghana over Omar Gonzalez was similarly polarizing.
It's safe to say Jurgen Klinsmann's faith has been vindicated.
Four minutes after Ghana drew level late, it was Brooks who rose to nod down Graham Zusi's corner kick. The contact was strong. The bounce stayed on target. As the ball rattled around the back of the net, Brooks threw his hands in the air in disbelief, then collapsed to the turf. The 86th-minute strike — just the fourth of his top-flight career for club or country — gave the USA a 2-1 triumph over Ghana.
A halftime substitute Monday for Matt Besler, the 21-year-old center back made just his fifth international appearance since debuting in August — and his first in a competitive match. His mere presence on the roster caused controversy last month when he was chosen over steady veteran Clarence Goodson. His inclusion versus Ghana over Omar Gonzalez was similarly polarizing.
It's safe to say Jurgen Klinsmann's faith has been vindicated.
Four minutes after Ghana drew level late, it was Brooks who rose to nod down Graham Zusi's corner kick. The contact was strong. The bounce stayed on target. As the ball rattled around the back of the net, Brooks threw his hands in the air in disbelief, then collapsed to the turf. The 86th-minute strike — just the fourth of his top-flight career for club or country — gave the USA a 2-1 triumph over Ghana.
Clint Dempsey's goal and grit provided the USA with some life. Tim
Howard's poise between the posts was crucial as well. Jermaine Jones and
Kyle Beckerman made a slew of timely tackles in midfield. But Brooks
was the clear standout against Ghana.
Stepping into a match as heated and physical as this USA-Ghana clash
was an imposing task on its own. Doing so in his World Cup debut
amplified the pressure. Yet Brooks, aside from one shaky moment,
performed with confidence that belied his age.
Partnering with Geoff Cameron, Brooks held his own while helping
deflect a constant stream of Ghanaian attacks. He delivered seven
clearances, two blocks and two interceptions, and completed 9 of 10
passes. As the Americans protected the lead after his goal, he came up
with a crucial deflection of a Michael Essien header.
With this victory, the Americans now have five World Cup triumphs in
the modern era. The players who have scored game-winning World Cup goals
after 1950: Earnie Stewart. Brian McBride. Landon Donovan. And now, John Brooks.
John Brooks of the United States celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Fabian Johnson during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. From right: John Brooks of the United States celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Fabian Johnson during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. Kevin C. Cox—Getty Images
The little-known player's late header proved decisive as the Stars and Stripes beat the Black Stars in their opening match in the 2014 World Cup. Fans have embraced the player as "the greatest American since Abraham Lincoln"—at least, if Wikipedia is to be believed
John Brooks looked as if he could hardly believe what he had done.
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During the 86th minute of the U.S.’s opening World Cup match in Brazil, the 21-year-old defender executed a perfectly timed header from a corner to grab the lead against perennial World Cup nemesis Ghana.
Then he collapsed as three of his teammates piled on top of him to celebrate the goal. The game was Brooks’ first competitive match with the senior national team and his debut at the world’s most watched sports tournament.
Brooks told reporters afterwards that the game-winning goal was a literal dream come true. “I told some teammates that I would score in the 80th minute and win the game and I did it – in the 86th minute,” he said. “The dream was two days ago, and it was also a header from a corner.”
The decisive goal sealed the U.S. triumph over the Black Stars, who had beaten the American squad in two previous World Cups. However, the mere fact Brooks was even on the field was serendipitous.
The Berlin native had spent the entire first half of the match watching from the bench before he was subbed on to replace star defender Matt Besler, who was struggling to shrug off a hamstring injury.
“He played his first World Cup and scored in it,” U.S. coach and former World Cup–winning Germany striker Jürgen Klinsmann told reporters after the game. “It was quite a special day for him.”
Brooks is one of four players on the U.S. national team born to an American serviceman and a German mother.
The 6-ft. 4-in. center-back has been playing for hometown club Hertha Berlin since the 2010–11 season, after reportedly turning down an offer to join the ranks of Bundesliga juggernaut Bayern Munich in 2011.
Brooks first joined the ranks of the U.S. national team when he played with the under-20 outfit in a stinging loss to Paraguay in 2010.
Monday night was a decidedly happier occasion, and he will likely stand a little taller as the U.S. battles to make it through the so-called group of death — even facing off against the country of his birth on June 26.
The defender says the decision to play for the Stars and Stripes came naturally, even though he could just as easily have joined the superstar-filled German squad thanks to his dual citizenship. (His father hails from Chicago, and he has tattoos of Germany and Illinois on his elbows.)
“The U.S. really wanted me, so it was not a hard decision to play for the USA,” said Brooks during an interview last August.
And the young player’s contribution on Monday seems to have resolved any doubts about his nationality. Shortly after the game with Ghana, Brooks’ Wikipedia profile was changed to describe him as “the greatest American since Abraham Lincoln.”
The little-known player's late header proved decisive as the Stars and Stripes beat the Black Stars in their opening match in the 2014 World Cup. Fans have embraced the player as "the greatest American since Abraham Lincoln"—at least, if Wikipedia is to be believed
John Brooks looked as if he could hardly believe what he had done.
More
Analyzing John Brooks’ Dream About Scoring The Winning GoalWatch Joe Biden Congratulate Team USA in the Locker Room After World Cup WinMissing MH370: Robo-Sub Hasn't Scoured Potential 'Hot Spot' NBC NewsAmerica Is Globally Shamed For Its Pathetic Minimum Wage Huffington PostDoctors in Erbil Tend to Iraqis Wounded in ISIS Offensive NBC News
During the 86th minute of the U.S.’s opening World Cup match in Brazil, the 21-year-old defender executed a perfectly timed header from a corner to grab the lead against perennial World Cup nemesis Ghana.
Then he collapsed as three of his teammates piled on top of him to celebrate the goal. The game was Brooks’ first competitive match with the senior national team and his debut at the world’s most watched sports tournament.
Brooks told reporters afterwards that the game-winning goal was a literal dream come true. “I told some teammates that I would score in the 80th minute and win the game and I did it – in the 86th minute,” he said. “The dream was two days ago, and it was also a header from a corner.”
The decisive goal sealed the U.S. triumph over the Black Stars, who had beaten the American squad in two previous World Cups. However, the mere fact Brooks was even on the field was serendipitous.
The Berlin native had spent the entire first half of the match watching from the bench before he was subbed on to replace star defender Matt Besler, who was struggling to shrug off a hamstring injury.
“He played his first World Cup and scored in it,” U.S. coach and former World Cup–winning Germany striker Jürgen Klinsmann told reporters after the game. “It was quite a special day for him.”
Brooks is one of four players on the U.S. national team born to an American serviceman and a German mother.
The 6-ft. 4-in. center-back has been playing for hometown club Hertha Berlin since the 2010–11 season, after reportedly turning down an offer to join the ranks of Bundesliga juggernaut Bayern Munich in 2011.
Brooks first joined the ranks of the U.S. national team when he played with the under-20 outfit in a stinging loss to Paraguay in 2010.
Monday night was a decidedly happier occasion, and he will likely stand a little taller as the U.S. battles to make it through the so-called group of death — even facing off against the country of his birth on June 26.
The defender says the decision to play for the Stars and Stripes came naturally, even though he could just as easily have joined the superstar-filled German squad thanks to his dual citizenship. (His father hails from Chicago, and he has tattoos of Germany and Illinois on his elbows.)
“The U.S. really wanted me, so it was not a hard decision to play for the USA,” said Brooks during an interview last August.
And the young player’s contribution on Monday seems to have resolved any doubts about his nationality. Shortly after the game with Ghana, Brooks’ Wikipedia profile was changed to describe him as “the greatest American since Abraham Lincoln.”
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