AMSTERDAM – LA Galaxy star Gyasi Zardes enjoyed a proper international coming out party Friday night, bagging his first US national team goal to help the visiting Americans pull off an improbable 4-3 rally win over the Netherlands.
Working his lucky seventh USMNT cap, the 23-year-old cancelled out the Dutch opener with a terrific strike just past the half hour. Zardes stayed on a Fabian Johnson switching cross to reach around Oranje defender Gregory van der Wiel for a poke home he'll always remember.
"It was a blessing to step on the field against the team, and to get a goal is amazing," Zardes told reporters after the match, elongating the final adjective with relish. "All I was thinking was make contact and put it on frame. I knew [the defender] was going to let it go, and I just gave it my all to run behind him."
Zardes says he felt the confidence grow as soon as the ball squeaked past Ajax netminder Jasper Cillessen. He had a nice second-half area chance to double his tally, but this time was robbed by the home 'keeper. Still, the youngster felt it as part of his growth at this level.
"[My comfort level] rises a ton scoring a goal in this game, on this stage," Zardes said of the immediate mental impact of making his first goal a big one. "Especially getting a goal like that, to get your team back in the game – it's amazing.
"This is probably the best international team I've played. To step on the pitch and prove myself against guys who have been playing for top clubs in Europe is an amazing experience, and a learning experience, as well."
The left winger found several occasions to menace along with a fellow learner, left back Brek Shea. The two caused quite a few headaches when running the flank as a duo.
"I thought it was great," Zardes said of working with Shea on the wing. "We're building chemistry. I think over a period of time we'll be good together. He's extremely fast, and he's very technical. So if we can both get into the attack, it'll be phenomenal."
Overall, it was a night to savor for the LA forward. He stamped his name on a famous win, the team's first ever scored on Dutch soil.
"It was a team performance, we gave our all and it showed," Zardes said. "We never gave up, even when we were 3-1 down. We came back and showed our character and showed that we belonged on the pitch for the full 90."
