Long regarded as merely a backup for Miroslav Klose and an underperformer at the big tournaments, the 26-year-old grabbed his chance at the first opportunity to strengthen his claims to be Germany's first choice striker in the tournament.
Gomez, a surprise starter on Saturday with Klose on the bench, was in the right place at the right time, as he has done so often for his club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season, to head in the only goal on 72 minutes.
Gomez himself was shut out and frustrated by Portugal central defenders Pepe and Bruno Alves, and was about to be taken off for Klose when he nodded in Sami Khedira's cross.
At the 2010 World Cup he was also upstaged by Thomas Muller, who was the tournament's top scorer.
Now, however, he can expect to be the first choice after Low opted to start with him instead of Klose, who is only five goals away from Germany's all-time goal scoring record of 68.
"I've had two successful years behind me," a beaming Gomez said. "I'm very very happy... I had a good feeling from the start here and I wanted to give something back for the trust [the coach put on me]."
