ATLANTA—Like Liam Neeson in the Taken films, Alan Gordon has very particular talents—a set of skills that U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann admits he is quite enamored of yet hopes he never has to use.

But if the U.S. needs a goal late in tomorrow's Gold Cup semifinal against Jamaica (6 pm ET; Fox Sports 1, UniMas), Klinsmann will not hesitate to turn to the Los Angeles Galaxy forward, who replaced Jozy Altidore on the roster after the group stage last week. 

“That's why Alan Gordon from the beginning was on the standby roster,” Klinsmann said. “That's why we're bringing in Alan—because he's fully fit. He's so full of energy. He scores his goals with the Galaxy but he fits right away. He's a pure giver with the group.

"He might be a player who can make a difference in any second when you bring him in.”

Despite having just one national team cap and not being more than a part-time starter for the Galaxy, for the second straight Gold Cup Klinsmann has made the six-foot-three target forward a late addition to the roster. He’s done it with one particular Gordon skill in mind, knowing that if the U.S. needs a goal late in a game, Gordon is a viable and proven option off the bench with an uncanny ability to score big goals after sitting most of the game.

By his own admission, the 33-year-old Gordon is not the most skilled player on the roster, and despite playing 73 games he’s only scored 13 goals over the past two-and-a-half seasons. 

But in Gordon’s case, the volume of goals is secondary to the type of goals that he has lately shown to have a unique knack for scoring.

Of the nine regular season goals Gordon has tallied since re-joining the Galaxy last August, seven have come off the bench; eight have been game-winning, game-tying, or go-ahead goals; three were in stoppage time; and five came less than 10 minutes after he was subbed on.

“It’s something I’ve shown I can do and it’s gotten me here,” Gordon said. “It’s nice to be recognized for it.”

Klinsmann called a Gordon a “great example of a guy being in his 30s and being really hungry.”

Gordon has become a soccer version of a veteran pinch-hitter in baseball with a knack for coming through in the clutch. All told, since the trade from the Earthquakes, he’s been subbed on 21 times and with seven goals in those games, he’s got a .333 average—great numbers for a pinch-hitter and amazing numbers for super-sib. 

“In some ways its easier off the bench to score because you don’t have to pace yourself like (when) you’re starting, going 90,” Gordon said. “I’ve always played with a lot of energy and I’m able to just throw myself into the game. But I also know it’s not all me (scoring the goals). It happens because teammates, mostly guys who’ve been working the whole game, are making something happen and I just happen to be the one to finish.

"But I think my teammates know I’m going to do all I can when I’m out there to score.”

Gyasi Zardes, Gordon’s teammate with the Galaxy and on the Gold Cup roster marvels at Gordon’s ability to fill the net off the bench. “It’s amazing how he’s able to do that time after time,” Zardes said.

It’s not the most conventional path to being in the national team but Gordon isn’t complaining because that unique skill has him somewhere few role places ever get.

“I was thrilled to get the call and am honored that the coaches see something in me that they think can help us win another Gold Cup trophy, which is the goal of this tournament,” Gordon said.

Gordon’s role means that if he isn’t playing, it means the team is probably scoring enough goals that his skill-set isn’t needed. That’s good for the team, but reduces the chance he’ll get capped.

“Yeah, I want to win, but I want to play, too. It’s the national team. I want a chance just like everyone else. It was cool to be part of the (Gold Cup) championship two years ago, but I think you feel more a part of it if you play.”

The other trait that Gordon brings is an effusive, upbeat personality. Gordon is a tireless worker who has maxed-out his physical gifts while not taking himself too seriously—all traits Klinsmann loves in his locker room.

“His personality, he’d been with the Galaxy before so some of the guys already knew him when we trade to bring him back and they were talking about what a good guy he is and it’s really true,” said Zardes. “He works hard but he’s so positive and upbeat and the team feeds off that.”

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.