The super sub: Erwin Hoffer

By John F. Molinaro, CBCSports.ca

Erwin Hoffer has seen limited playing time in the knockout stages of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but no player has made a bigger impact than the Austrian forward.

In the second round against Gambia, Hoffer came into the game as a substitute in the 71st minute and the lanky striker scored with nine minutes left in regulation to lift Austria to a 2-1 win over the Africans.

Against the United States in the quarter-finals, Hoffer entered the contest in extra time and scored the winning goal just two minutes after stepping onto the field, to lead the Austrians to an upset 2-1 victory over the Americans.

Austria's Erwin Hoffer, middle, scores the winning goal against the United States in the quarter-finals. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

"Nobody would have thought we could reach the semifinals. When I came into the game, I was eager to give everything. I scored when I came in so I am thrilled with my contributions. Now, anything is possible for us," the Austrian goal-scoring hero said after the victory.

Hoffer, 20, has played a leading role in Austria's fairytale run in Canada, scoring three of his team's six goals en route to helping his country reach the semifinals in only its third U-20 World Cup appearance, and first in 24 years.

The Austrian forward has also captured headlines in Canada with his unique haircut: shaved neatly into the left side of his head is his nickname "Jimmy," a reference to former Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa.

But don't let the outlandish haircut fool you — Hoffer is a serious soccer star.

Widely regarded as one of the most talented young prospects in Europe, Hoffer is known for his speed, hard tackling and ability to create scoring chances for himself.

Hoffer is, by far, the most gifted player on the Austrian team, so it makes you wonder why coach Paul Gludovatz has insisted on using the striker as a substitute in the knockout rounds — when the stakes are much higher than the first round &8212; instead of putting him in the starting lineup.

"I left Jimmy on the bench at the start because I thought before the game that the match might go to extra time," Gludovatz said after the Gambia game. "I simply wanted to have a joker to play."

The poker analogy is apropos because Gludovatz took a big gamble in not starting his best player, even though the coach doesn't see it that way.

When the score was tied 1-1 and the prospect of a shootout against the U.S. in the quarter-finals was looming, did Gludovatz regret not bringing in Hoffer earlier than he did?

"Why would I?" the coach slyly responded when asked the question in the post-match press conference.

As for Hoffer, who plays in the Austrian first division with SK Rapid Wien but is destined to wind up with one of Europe's top clubs in the near future, his objective remains the same: score goals.

"I don't feel any extra pressure when I come off the bench. I always give 100 per cent whether I start the game or I come on a substitute because I always want to score," Hoffer said.