Late rally gives U.S. soccer first win over Netherlands

AMSTERDAM – Danny Williams scored in the 88th minute and Bobby Wood in the 90th, capping a comeback from a two-goal, second-half deficit and leading the United States over the Netherlands 4-3 on Friday night for the Americans’ first win against the Dutch.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored on headers in the 27th and 49th minutes in the exhibition and assisted on Memphis Depay’s 53rd-minute goal as the sixth-ranked Netherlands built a 3-1 lead.

Gyasi Zardes got his first international goal in the 33rd as the U.S. reached halftime in a 1-all tie despite having just 39 percent possession.

John Brooks cut the U.S. deficit in the 70th minute with a tap-in past goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen after U.S. captain Michael Bradley sent the ball wide to DeAndre Yedlin.

Williams, who entered in the 63rd minute, tied the score following a corner kick when he reached a failed clearance and his 20-yard shot deflected in off the foot of Luuk De Jong and then the crossbar.

Wood, who came in during the 65th, slotted in a right-footed shot from 4 yards after Bradley brought the ball up the center of the field and passed to Jordan Morris. They were the first international goals for Williams and Wood, both far down on the American depth chart.

“I was lucky that my shot deflected at the end,” Williams said. “It’s an absolutely fantastic feeling to win against Holland in Amsterdam.”

Wood, whose Erzgebirge Aue club was relegated to the German third division, was making his seventh appearance for the U.S.

The Americans, ranked 27th, had been 0-4 against the Dutch coming in and had been outscored 7-1. They play at world champion Germany on Wednesday in their next-to-last game before starting the defense of their CONCACAF Gold Cup title.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann previously led the Americans to their first win against Italy and their first victory at Mexico.

Huntelaar’s goals raised his total to 41 in 72 international matches, moving one ahead of Patrick Kluivert for second place on the Dutch scoring list. Dutch captain Robin van Persie, who leads with 49, could not put the ball past goalkeeper Brad Guzan.