Jozy Altidore netted a superb hat-trick as the US rally from 2-0 down to beat a strong Bosnia side.
The USA beat Bosnia Herzegovina 4-3 on Wednesday night in Sarajevo to push their impressive winning streak to 12 consecutive matches.
Sunderland fans will be left salivating after a fantastic display from striker Jozy Altidore, whose hat-trick made the victory possible.
It was the hosts who opened the scoring in Sarajevo, Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko failing to beat Howard at his near post, but netting on the rebound. A sloppy goal for the USA to concede, but a punishment befitting the lacklustre defending. Debutant John Anthony Brooks may well have gotten back to the line to stop the shot had he not been hopelessly appealing for an offside call.
Bosnia doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when former Chicago Fire forward Vedad Ibisevic glanced his header home from a Zvjezdan Misimovic cross from deep.
Whatever Klinsmann said to his team at half time obviously had the right impact, as the 45 minutes that followed could hardly have been more different from the first.
AS Roma midfielder Michael Bradley showed his class ten minutes after the break, his lofted ball travelling fifty yards to find Jozy Altidore’s run in behind the Bosnian back line. In an effort to take the ball around the on-rushing ‘keeper Asmir Begovic, Altidore’s touch turned into a through-ball for Eddie Johnson who calmly passed it into an open net.
Four minutes later and against all odds the scores were level. Hoffenheim midfielder Fabian Johnson produced some nice footwork before slipping in Jozy Altidore down the left-hand channel of the area. Altidore then rifled home a left-footed shot into the far corner past Begovic.
Altidore got his second goal of the night in the 84th minute. Miroslav Stevanovic tripped Edgar Castillo roughly 25-yards out from goal at the bottom of the D. The resulting free-kick was sensational, Altidore whipping the ball with ferocity up, over the wall, and curling into Begovic’s top right-hand corner. Simply unstoppable.
With five minutes to go some beautiful midfield interplay led to Michael Bradley feeding in Jozy Altidore for the second time, who beat a scrambling Begovic to the ball once more. He finished low and hard with his right from point-blank to wrap the game up at 4-2.
Edin Dzeko kept the scores close with a classic header in the 90th minute, a deep cross from substitute Edin Visca finding the striker unmarked on the penalty spot.
Enjoy the USA’s remarkable comeback, Altidore’s top hat-trick and all the highlights here: