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Wood scores as Hamburg falls to Johnson, Borussia Monchengladbach in DFB-Pokal

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Bobby Wood’s Hamburg was knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by a fellow American Abroad on Wednesday, but the U.S. Men’s National Team forward did fire one final parting gift before departing the German cup competition.

Wood score a late goal on Wednesday as Hamburg fell, 2-1, to Fabian Johnson and Borussia Monchengbladbach. Wood’s goal, his eighth of the season, came in the 92nd minute, serving as consolation as Hamburg suffered elimination in the quarterfinals.

Borussia Monchengladbach benefited from a pair of second half penalty kicks, notching both to seal the win. Lars Stindl buried the first spot kick in the 53rd minute before Raffael added a second in the 61st minute with what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Johnson entered as a 70th minute substitute as Monchendgladbach looked to see out the game. They couldn’t quite seal a clean sheet thanks to Wood’s stoppage time finish, but Johnson and co. did do enough to join Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt in the tournament’s semifinals.

Here’s a closer look at Wood’s goal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30xUfW91YOk

Comments

  1. At this point, Wood is ahead of Jozy only because Wood is in-season and Jozy is in pre-season. When both are in-season, I think we are much better with a 2 forward lineup (4-1-3-2) with Jozy and Bobby combining with each other. I don’t think we have the right talent for a 4-3-3 while a 4-2-3-1 strands the forward.

    Plus this goal is what the epitome of EPL was 10-15 years ago when balls avoided the midfield and went straight to the forwards.

    Reply
    • You’re right on the last point,although that has nothing to do with whether Wood can play as a lone striker. I have to ask what talent we need for a 4-3-3 that we don’t have and if the 4-2-3-1 strands the forward, why do so many teams use it? I’m not saying you’re wrong on those points, I just want further clarification. It seems to me that FJ, Pulisic, Wood, Green and Nagbe have played in 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formations extensively, and I’m sure there are others. I think all of those players fit a lone forward formation pretty well.

      Reply
    • When/If everyone is healthy we actually do have the players to line-up in either formation (4-2-3-1 or the 4-3-3). The problem is that most of the players who are best suited for these formations lack experience….
      In a 4-3-3:
      Center Forward: Wood, Jozy, Zardes, Morris, Boyd, Agudelo
      Wide Forward: Pulisic, Green, Gooch, Arriola, Manneh, Gyau (possibly)
      Midfield: Bradley, Jones, Nagbe, Williams, Feilhaber, Kitchen, Morales, Lletget, Hyndman,
      In a 4-2-3-1
      Center Forward: Wood, Jozy, Zardes, Morris, Boyd, Agudelo
      Wide Midfield: Pulisic, Nagbe, Green, Zardes, Gooch, Arriola, Manneh,
      CM: Feilhaber, Lletget, Hyndman, Kljestan
      CDM: Bradley, Jones, Williams, Morales, Kitchen, Acosta, Cameron (possibly)

      The problem is that since we’re in dire need of points and because of Bruce’s general approach; we’re not likely to see many of the young players we’d need to pull these formations off successfully until after the June Qualifiers (Gold Cup).

      In the not too distant future the team is going to have to move away from the “Old Guard” (Dempsey, Jones, Bedoya, Kljestan, Feilhaber, etc…) and get the young players time. I just can’t see all of these 30+ yr old’s making the cut come 2018. Sh!t even Bradley & Jozy could be forced out if they don’t start playing better.

      Reply
  2. He’s definitely top of the striker pool right now. If we play a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-2-1-3 he has to be the CF ahead of Jozy.

    Reply
  3. Thats a really nice finish. Ridiculous how easy he brings the punt down and sets himself up for the break. The US is a much stronger team with him in the lineup.

    Reply

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