Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of former United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, saved a crucial penalty during his professional first-team debut in Hertha Berlin's Europa League game against Ostersunds on Thursday.
Klinsmann dived to his left to paw aside Brwa Nouri's attempt in the 87th minute and preserved a 1-1 draw. The result prevented the Swedish club from winning Group J.
The 20-year-old Klinsmann had previously made six appearances for Hertha's under-23 side in the fourth-tier regional league.
He got his chance with the senior team as regular goalkeeper Rune Jarstein skips Hertha's international games and his back-up Thomas Kraft is out with a cold.
Hertha were already out of the Europa League, so only pride was at stake for them against Ostersund.
"Jonathan has developed well. He looks good and is much better in training, from his stability and control," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said on Wednesday. "There's pressure. He has to show he can live with the name."
Jurgen Klinsmann, a prolific striker who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990, coached Germany when they hosted the tournament in 2006. He took over the U.S. in 2011 and coached the side for five years.
The 6-foot-4 Jonathan Klinsmann, a goalkeeper with the United States Under-20 team, was handed his first professional contract after impressing Hertha during a trial in the offseason. He previously played for the University of California.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.