U.S.A. / SPORTS
Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
July 4, 2016
Asians in American sports w Asian Americans in world sports
Striker Bobby Wood performs well in Copa América
By Mike Street
Special to The Asian Reporter
he United States has dominated several inter-
national sports, but soccer has never been one of
them. A surge of young talent bodes well for the
future, however, led by striker Bobby Wood. Wood showed
his value at the Copa América last month, both with his
presence and absence, as the United States tied its best
finish ever in the tournament.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Copa América,
a tournament traditionally held among South American
teams plus a handful of invitees. This year, those invitees
included the U.S. and Mexico, for a special version of the
tournament held in the United States.
On its home turf, the U.S. team hoped to show how far
they had come since placing fourth place at the 1995 Copa
América, the team’s best finish ever at the tournament.
Coach Jürgen Klinsmann hoped Bobby Wood would be the
star striker the U.S. has often lacked.
Wood was born in Honolulu to an African-American
father and a mother with Japanese roots. He played for a
California youth league before drawing the attention of
TSV 1860 Munich in Germany. He rose through their
youth ranks quickly, becoming a starter for the club at the
age of 18.
Last season, the 23-year-old played with Berlin Union
in the second tier of Germany’s Bundesliga, setting a
league scoring record for an American-born player. This
led to a four-year deal for Wood with Hamburg in the first
tier of the world-class Bundesliga.
Since Wood’s 2013 debut with the U.S. national team,
he has amassed 23 caps and scored six goals. Klinsmann
expected Wood to electrify the U.S. attack in the Copa
América, though there were few chances in their opening
match against Colombia.
Although the U.S. lost 0-2, Wood played his role well,
taking the ball deep into enemy territory to set up Clint
Dempsey. Wood maintained possession well and held off
aggressive defenders to allow his teammates to get open.
In their next match, against Costa Rica, the U.S. needed
to win to advance. Wood set up the first goal by drawing a
penalty kick when opposing fullback Cristian Gamboa
pushed him in the back; Dempsey hammered home the
subsequent free kick.
Dempsey fed Jermaine Jones for Team USA’s second
goal, then notched his second assist of the half by setting
up Wood. Wood quickly settled the pass with his back to
the goal, then spun and drilled the ball inside the near
post. Graham Zusi scored the fourth goal to seal the 4-0
victory.
Needing a win against Paraguay to ensure a quarter-
final berth, Wood harassed the defense, drawing both
attention and rough challenges. These eventually wore on
T
Wood, who shoved a Paraguayan player, drawing his first
yellow card, one that would come back to haunt him.
Dempsey scored the match’s lone goal, and Wood nearly
set up a second goal with a great feed to Gyasi Zardes on a
breakaway counter, but Zardes couldn’t pull the trigger.
The U.S. held on for the 1-0 victory, winning the group
when Colombia fell to Costa Rica.
In the U.S.’s quarterfinal match against Ecuador, Wood
became a constant thorn in the Ecuadorian defense. He
held off fullbacks to feed his teammates and drew
defensive attention to open up space for runs inside. In the
22nd minute, Wood drew defenders near the corner,
freeing up Jones. Jones received Wood’s pass and served
up a beautiful cross to Dempsey, who headed it home.
Wood repeated this formula in the second half, this time
attracting the defense to set up a series of passes between
Dempsey and Zardes that led to the squad’s second goal.
Ecuador responded with a goal and threatened several
more times, but the U.S. hung on, 2-1, to advance to the
Filipino man charged with stealing
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personal information online or
through phone calls and then use
it to make wire transfers and
order credit cards.
Prosecutors said it wasn’t
known if Locsin had an attorney
to comment on his behalf. He
faces up to 30 years in prison.
One of the victims was de-
scribed as a “well-known social-
ite and entertainer” and another
as a “former high-ranking U.S.
government
official,”
but
prosecutors declined to reveal
their identities.
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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A
Filipino man has been charged
with stealing the identities of
high-profile victims to take
money from them.
Federal prosecutors in New
Jersey have announced charges
against 35-year-old Peter Locsin
of Palisay City in the Philip-
pines. He was arrested on
unrelated charges in May in the
Philippines, where he remains
in custody.
Prosecutors say he conspired
with others to steal people’s
Retirement
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SENSATIONAL STRIKER. Bobby Wood (#7) of the United
States battles Francisco Calvo (#3) of Costa Rica during a Copa América
Centenario group A soccer match at Soldier Field in Chicago. Wood,
age 23, debuted on the U.S. national team in 2013. (AP Photo/Charles
Rex Arbogast)
semifinal match.
Unfortunately, Wood involved himself in a second-half
fracas between teammate Alejandro Bedoya and
Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia. Rushing into the melee
earned Wood another yellow card, which disqualified him
for the semifinal match against Argentina.
Facing the top team in the world presents a challenge
under the best of circumstances, but missing key players
makes it nearly impossible. With Wood, Jones, and
Bedoya all suspended for penalties, the U.S. team had
little chance against Argentina, who prevailed 4-0.
Argentina danced, spun, and passed crisply around and
through the American defense, and the U.S. failed to get
off a single shot in return. Had the U.S. been at full
strength, it’s unlikely the outcome would have been differ-
ent, but it might have been a more competitive match.
After losing to Argentina, the U.S.’s third-place game
would be a rematch against Colombia. Wood, Jones, and
Bedoya all returned, but fullback John Brooks and defen-
sive midfielder Fabian Johnson were out due to injury.
Those defensive changes might have made the difference,
as Colombia broke through the right side of the U.S.
defense in the 31st minute to score the game’s only goal.
Wood and the U.S. offense certainly had their chances
to respond. Dempsey sent a brilliant free kick curving to
the upper right hand corner of the goal, and only a
fantastic save by Colombian keeper David Ospina kept
the ball out of the net.
For his part, Wood overcame an aggressive challenge by
Colombia’s defense that took him to the ground.
Incredibly, he maintained possession, got back on his feet,
and fired a shot that ricocheted off the right post. On two
other occasions, Wood fed passes to Dempsey and Zardes
that might have found the goal, but neither player could
capitalize.
Though the U.S. only won fourth place at Copa América
Centenario, there is still plenty for U.S. fans to be
optimistic about. The U.S. only looked foolish against
Argentina, but many teams have experienced that same
feeling. In every other match, Team USA appeared solid,
and its young players offer further hope. In Bobby Wood,
the United States may finally have the world-class striker
to get them to the next level.
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Talking Story:
What we know,
after Orlando
Continued from page 6
every daughter and grand-
child, whether straight,
lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, questioning,
black, white, or brown as
me, is likewise loved by
fathers and uncles and
grandpas. Guapos just like
me.
And that these lovely
souls suddenly leaving our
achy little earth on such a
terrible Saturday night
breaks my heart like those
sorrowing men’s hearts are
broken. I know that me not
feeling thus, makes me as
unlovable as that shooter.
So lonely. So Godless.
Ampun’illaah.