It’s been a long time coming for John Brooks, and after an injury-plagued last couple of years, an equalizing goal for Wolfsburg in the UEFA Europa League Thursday must have felt sweet for the US men’s national team defender.
The 27-year-old center back leapt up to latch onto his team’s first corner kick and headed inside the far post from the edge of the six-yard box three minutes into the second half. The goal canceled out Junior Moraes’ 16th-minute opening goal for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Marcos Antonio scored the decisive goal for Shakhtar Donetsk in the 73rd minute in the first leg of the Round of 16.
It was the first goal of the year for Brooks, who has made 16 Bundesliga appearances this season, including starts in the last four games after a three-game benching.
Brooks has made 38 appearances for the USMNT, his last coming in a Concacaf Nations League A win over Canada in November, his first cap in nearly eight months.
