Wolff Played Hero Again

 On This Day in 2001, the Forward Scored the Winner for the Second Time in Three USMNT Matches, This Time in a Victory Over Costa Rica

Josh Wolff scored his first United States Men’s National Team goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico in October 2000. The goal came in Wolff’s third cap. Three months later, he would score the biggest goal of his career, which proved to be the winner in another 2-0 victory over Mexico — this time in World Cup Qualifying. On April 25, 2001, he would score the winner again in another World Cup Qualifier.

Wolff played three years at the University of South Carolina to start his career, scoring 21 goals in 43 games from 1995-1997. He signed with MLS and was assigned to the Chicago Fire for the 1998 season, though he played matches for the Project-40 team in the A-League. He scored a then-rookie record eight MLS goals in just 14 games to close out 1998. Wolff also played in the MLS Cup Final and the US Open Cup Final in 1998 — both won by the Fire. He scored another 10 goals in 28 MLS matches in the following season and seven in 25 games in the 2000 season.

During that 2000 season, Wolff helped the Olympic team qualify for the Olympics, scoring the second goal in a 4-0 win over Guatemala in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament in April. He also scored the opener in the final against Honduras, but the US fell 2-1. In September that year, he was on the US team that finished fourth at the Olympics. He scored in a group-stage match against the Czech Republic — a 2-2 draw — and in the quarterfinals, Wolff scored the American's first equalizer against Japan. A late Peter Vagenas penalty equalized to force extra time and the penalty shootout. Wolff converted his penalty, the fourth of five for the US, and the Americans advanced to the semis. A defeat to Spain and Chile closed out the knockout rounds.

After the success at the Olympics, he was rewarded by coming off the bench for the senior team in the goalless draw with Costa Rica on October 11 for his second cap, where he created a couple of chances. He scored his first USMNT goal in that 2-0 win over Mexico two weeks later in a friendly. Wolff appeared again for the US in the friendly against Colombia ahead of the qualifying matchup with Mexico on February 28, 2001. In that match against Mexico, Wolff subbed on after Brian McBride came off with a swollen eye. Clint Mathis also subbed on for the injured Claudio Reyna, and just after the half, Mathis spotted Wolff running in on goal and fired the long pass. Wolff beat Jorge Campos with the touch around the goalkeeper and slotted it in the empty net. Wolff assisted Earnie Stewart’s goal to double the lead in the qualifying win.

Wolff, clearly in form, scored the winner in Chicago’s 2-0 victory over DC United on April 14 in the second match of the season. Nine days later, Wolff would play hero again for the national team. Hosting Costa Rica, the USMNT was top of the Hex after two matches, beating Honduras 2-1 on the road on March 28. Wolff earned the start and played 67 minutes in that match. Against Costa Rica, he made the start again, this time alongside his former Gamecock teammate Mathis. In the 16th minute, Wolff almost gave the Americans the lead when Reyna floated a pass to find the forward in behind. Wolff brought it down and chipped the goalkeeper Erick Lonnis before Reynaldo Parks cleared it off the line on a bicycle kick.

The US had the better of the play in the first half, but both teams went back and forth with chances in the second half. In the 69th minute, the Americans drew a corner. Jeff Agoos curled in the inswinging cross with the left foot that Parks partially cleared. Agoos lobbed it back in on the volley, and Mathis and Parks got into another tussle, with Mathis getting the better of the Costa Rican. The ball fell to Wolff via Mathis’ arm, who helped it past Lonnis for the winner. The questionable call went the home team’s way, and Mathis didn’t recall it hitting his arm.

“I don't remember,” Mathis said. “Anytime there is a ball in the box, you must do anything to get a touch on it.”

Even more interesting, Wolff made his final chance count. Ante Razov stood on the sideline waiting to replace the eventual match-winner in the 71st minute.

“I knew it was me coming off when I saw it was a forward coming in,” Wolff said. “But you’re still on the field and you have to do your job. I thought Clint and I played well together. Anytime the ball is whipped in, and it is not coming to you, you have to get in the right spot. Clint nodded it to me, and I did what I had to do.”

The Americans withstood a few Costa Rica attacks in the final minutes but held on for their third-straight win to start the Hex. Wolff stayed hot when he returned to the Fire, scoring a free-kick in a 1-0 victory over Tampa Mutiny three days later. But unfortunately, Wolff suffered an injury to his left foot in the second half, which turned into a season-ending stress fracture. In the final qualifying match, Wolff would return to action for the national team, a goalless draw with Trinidad and Tobago.

He would re-establish himself with the US, helping the team win the 2002 Gold Cup with two goals against Costa Rica in the final. Wolff made the 2002 World Cup roster, playing twice — one start and one off the bench. That start came in the Round of 16 victory over Mexico, where Wolff assisted McBride’s opener in the 2-0 win.