It was one memorable and landmark weekend for young U.S. Men’s National Team players across some of Europe’s biggest leagues.
Several players made debuts of one kind or another. Another recorded his first assist, and another marked an historic milestone.
Gio Reyna's virtuoso performance for Borussia Dortmund garnered the most attention. With his helpers on the first three goals in BVB’s 4-0 win against Freiburg, he became the first 17-year-old to register three assists in a Bundesliga match. He’s also the second U.S. player to do so in a top-flight European league, following Steve Cherundolo who accomplished the same feat for Hannover 96 in 2008.
Reyna, the son of former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna, received a standing ovation from the Dortmund faithful at Signal Iduna Park when he was subbed off in the 80th minute and received Man of the Match honors.
🅰️⚽ Reyna ➡️ Haaland
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) October 3, 2020
🅰️⚽ Reyna ➡️ Can
🅰️⚽ Reyna ➡️ Haaland
🅰️⚽ Haaland ➡️ Passlack #BVBSCF in 60 seconds 🔥🎥 pic.twitter.com/SJTCEbAnAo
While Reyna’s performance led the way, there were significant steps for several in more in the player pool:
On Sunday, 20-year-old defender Chris Richards earned the honor as the first U.S. player to secure a Bundesliga start for Bayern Munich and he did not waste the opportunity. The FC Dallas Academy standout played a vital role in the first two of Robert Lewandowski's four goals in Bayern's 4-3 home win against Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
In the 40th minute, Richards’ feed from the right side helped originate the Polish international's first goal. In the 51st minute, the 20-year-old Richards one-touched a right-wing cross to Lewandowski on top of the area. The lethal striker, named European Footballer of the Year by UEFA on Friday, tucked his shot into the lower left corner in the 51st minute.
Lewandowski then ran over to Richards and gave him a deserved hug for his pin-point feed.
There's his assist! @eastmamba provides Robert Lewandowski with his second of the match for @FCBayernUS.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 4, 2020
Dream first start for the 🇺🇸 defender!
(@ESPNFC)pic.twitter.com/oM0zmgoovF
Only three days after joining Barcelona, defender Sergiño Dest became the first U.S. player to make a La Liga appearance for the Catalan giants when he replaced Spanish international Jordi Alba in the 75th minute of its 1-1 home draw with Sevilla on Sunday.
In the 81st minute, the 19-year-old Dest helped create an opportunity for Lionel Messi, which was saved by Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Dest has followed in the footsteps of Jozy Altidore, Kasey Keller, Oguchi Onyewu and Shaq Moore as other USMNT players who have competed in La Liga. Konrad de la Fuente, who also was in the Barça 23-man squad, did not see any action.
HISTORY MADE! @sergino_dest becomes the first 🇺🇸 player to appear for @FCBarcelona in @LaLigaEN
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 4, 2020
(@beINSPORTSUSA) pic.twitter.com/BZYOEOyPSF
Left back Antonee Robinson also made his English Premier League debut for Fulham, playing all 90 minutes of its 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton on Sunday. The 23-year-old defender teamed with USMNT center back Tim Ream on the backline. Robinson, who played well in three Carabao Cup matches, became the eighth USMNT player to appear for the London side. He joined a distinguished list that includes Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Kasey Keller, Eddie Lewis, Eddie Johnson and Ream.
On Friday, 19-year-old Ulysses Llanez took his first steps in top-flight European football as a substitute in Heerenveen’s 1-1 draw with Utrecht. Llanez, 19, loaned by Wolfsburg (Germany) to the Dutch Eredivisie club earlier this month, replaced Argen van der Heide in the 67th minute, helping 10-man Heerenveen secure a road point.
After suffering a hamstring injury in August’s English FA Cup Final, Christian Pulisic returned to action for Chelsea on Saturday, coming on in the 83rd minute of the Blues’ 4-0 win against Crystal Palace.
Winger Nicholas Gioacchini tallied the game-winner for Caen in the 42nd minute in its 1-0 victory against Amiens in French Ligue 2 Sunday. It was Gioacchini's second goal this season.
Chelsea center back Matt Miazga completed a season-long loan to Anderlecht of Belgium. Now set to be managed by Belgium and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, Miazga joins the club after previous loan stints with Vitesse (Netherlands), Nantes (France) and Reading (England).
Ayo Akinola scored the equalizing goal for Toronto FC in its 2-1 win against the host Philadelphia Union on Saturday. After Philadelphia grabbed an early lead, Akinola headed home a point-blank shot off a left-wing cross in the 58th minute. It was Akinola's seventh goal in only 682 minutes over 10 games and seven Major League Soccer starts this season. Toronto FC might need Akinola to continue his scoring prowess as fellow USMNT forward Jozy Altidore left the match with a hamstring injury in the 53rd minute.
Midfielder Sebastian Lletget gave the LA Galaxy a fourth-minute lead, converting Javier (Chicharito) Hernandez's rebound off the post in from seven yards. Lletget, who has six goals this campaign, has tallied four of LA's last five scores. The visiting Galaxy could not hold up the lead in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – Injured, not in 18 for 4-0 win vs. Schalke 04 90 (Oct. 3)
Tyler Boyd (Besiktas; Turkish SuperLig) – 63 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Genclerbirligi (Oct. 4)
John Brooks (Wolfsburg; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Augsburg (Oct. 4)
Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Moreirense (Oct. 2)
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – Not in 18 for 1-1 draw at Guild (Oct. 3)
Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Sevilla (Oct. 4)
Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) – 15 substitute minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Sevilla (Oct. 4)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 1-0 win vs. Amiens SC (Oct. 3)
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Second Bundesliga) – 85 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Wurzburger Kickers (Oct. 4)
Duane Holmes (Derby County; English Championship) – 19 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. Blackburn Rovers (Sept. 26)
Aron Johannsson (Hammarby; Sweden Allsvenskan) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Djurgarden (Oct. 4)
Ulysses Llanez (Heerenveen; Dutch Eredivisie) – 23 substitute minutes in 1-1 draw at Utrecht (Oct. 2)
Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – No game as Napoli did not show up in Turin (Oct. 4)
Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf; German Second Bundesliga) – Not in 18 for 2-1 loss at Holstein Kiel (Oct. 4)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) – 8 substitute minutes in 4-0 win vs. Crystal Palace (Oct. 3)
Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton (Oct. 4); Not in 18 for 3-0 loss at Brentford (Oct. 1); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Aston Villa (Sept. 28)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 80 minutes, THREE ASSISTS in 4-0 win vs. Freiburg (Oct. 3); 18 substitute minutes in 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich in German Super Cup (Sept. 30)
Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; German Bundesliga) – 65 minutes, ASSIST in 4-3 win vs. Hertha BSC (Oct. 4); Not in 18 in 3-2 win vs. Borussia Dortmund in German Super Cup (Sept. 30)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton (Oct. 4); 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Brentford (Oct. 1); In 18, DNP in 3-0 loss vs. Aston Villa (Sept. 28)
Emmanuel Sabbi (OB; Danish SuperLiga) – 89 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Vejle (Oct. 4)
Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Arminia Bielefeld (Oct. 3)
Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Leeds United (Oct. 2); 90 minutes in 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Burnley (Sept. 30)
Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 1 substitute minute in 3-0 win at Strasbourg In 18 (Oct. 4)
DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United; English Premier League) – Injured, DNP in 3-1 win vs. Burnley draw (Oct. 3)
Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union) – 66 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Toronto FC (Oct. 3)
Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC) – 86 minutes, GOAL in 2-1 win at Philadelphia Union (Oct. 3)
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) – 53 minutes in 2-1 victory at Philadelphia Union (Oct. 3)
Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy) – Suspended; Not in 18 for 2-1 loss at San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 3)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 2-1 win at Philadelphia Union (Oct. 3)
Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas) – 17 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. FC Dallas (Oct. 3)
Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. FC Cincinnati (Oct. 3)
Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 4-0 win at D.C. United (Oct. 3)
Bill Hamid (D.C. United) – 90 minutes in 4-0 loss vs. Atlanta United (Oct. 3
Sean Johnson (New York City FC) – 90 minutes in 3-2 win at Inter Miami CF (Oct. 3)
Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids) – Game at Portland Timbers postponed (Oct. 3)
Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-1 win vs. LA Galaxy (Oct. 3)
Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) – 72 minutes, GOAL 2-1 loss at San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 3)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) – 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Orlando City SC (Oct. 3)
Daniel Lovitz (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at New England Revolution (Oct. 3)
Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Toronto FC (Oct. 3)
Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire) – 73 minutes in 2-2 draw at Montreal Impact (Oct. 3)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 3-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 3)
Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC) – 78 minutes in 4-0 win at D.C. United (Oct. 3)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 3)
Matt Turner (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Nashville SC (Oct. 3)
Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids) – Game at Colorado Rapids postponed (Oct. 3)
Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. LA Galaxy (Oct. 3)
Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-2 draw at FC Dallas (Oct. 3)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw at New England Revolution (Oct. 3)
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