The U.S. Men's National Team defeated Iceland in their first match in 2016, 3-2 at the StubHub Center on January 31. Goals from Jozy Altidore and Michael Orozco tied the game at 2, until D.C. United's own Steven Birnbaum rose highest to meet a Michael Bradley corner kick and head home past the Iceland goalkeeper Ogmundur Kristinsson. The goal was Birnbaum's first for the U.S., and came after he provided the assist for Orozco (his first U.S. assist as well) earlier in the match.
Those following us on Snapchat (ussoccer_mnt) were lucky to see Steve Birnbaum's game-winning goal from field level.https://t.co/Ijh63EM3N3
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) January 31, 2016After such a great performance, especially only 30 minutes from his hometown of Irvine, California, people back on the east coast took notice. The Washington Post's Steven Goff tweeted that after the match, Birnbaum was the second-highest trending topic on Twitter in Washington.
Birnbaum's teammates, most of whom are with the team in Florida training for preseason, also took to Twitter to congratulate the newly-turned 25-year-old.
Fans and others in the soccer community got in on the action as well.
Even coach Klinsmann had some nice words to say about Steve.
Birnbaum definitely made his Black-and-Red family proud!
