USMNT Rewind: Sargent Assists in Draw at Bayern Munich, Gioacchini Draws Game-Winning Penalty for Caen
They didn't score, but U.S. men's national team forwards Josh Sargent and Nicholas Gioacchini and defender John Brooks played vital roles for their respective teams securing valuable road points on Saturday.
Sargent recorded his second assist of the season, helping Werder Bremen to a surprising 1-1 draw at first-place Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. His feed from the right set up Maximilian Eggestein's goal from 12 yards outl, which gave Bremen a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
WATCH: The 🇺🇸's @joshsargent sets up the go-ahead goal for @werderbremen_en away to @FCBayernUS!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) November 21, 2020
It's his second of the @Bundesliga_EN campaign.
(@ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/cwqEflofX5
The 20-year-old striker was dangerous throughout the match, and denied twice by German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who produced a kick save in the 16th minute and slapped away Sargent's shot in a 1 v 1 situation in the 83rd minute.
Gioacchini, who scored twice in his first USMNT start in the 6-2 victory over Panama on Monday, was fouled in the 85th minute to set up Caen's winning goal at Le Havre in French Ligue 2. Yacine Bammou converted the ensuing penalty kick to lift the visitors to a 2-1 win.
Brooks, a center back, went the entire way, helping Wolfsburg to a clean sheet in a 2-0 win at Schalke 04.
More updates to come…
In Saturday’s later matches:
Tyler Adams played the full 90 minutes at right back in RB Leipzig's 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Gio Reyna, who replaced Marco Reus in the 77th minute, was in the middle of the build-up of Erling Haaland's fourth goal of Borussia Dortmund's 5-2 triumph at Hertha Berlin.
The 18-year-old attacker, who scored his first international goal in the 6-2 friendly win vs. Panama in Austria on Monday, also had a close-range shot saved by goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow in the 83rd minute.
Sergiño Dest came on for Gerard Piqué in the 62nd minute of Barcelona's 1-0 loss at Atletico Madrid in La Liga action.
Weston McKennie subbed for Adrien Rabiot in the 69th minute in Juventus' 2-0 home victory over Cagliari in a Serie A match.
In Saturday’s MLS Cup Playoff matches, following a 1-1 draw, New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson saved a penalty kick during the shootout, but the side eventually fell 6-5 to Orlando City SC in a wild ending. Orlando City will meet the winner of Tuesday’s clash between Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution.
In Columbus, Gyasi Zardes played 90 minutes and headed home the eventual game-winning goal in the 68th minute of Columbus Crew SC’s 3-2 win against New York Red Bulls.
Columbus will face the winner of Tuesday’s encounter between Toronto FC and Nashville SC.
Fresh off international duty, Sebastian Soto and Richy Ledezma were back in action for their Dutch clubs.
On Friday, Ledezma went 90 minutes and assisted on Yorbe Vertessen’s 82nd minute goal to help Jong PSV overturn a 3-0 deficit and earn a 3-3 draw with MVV on. The day before, Soto went 80 minutes in Telstar’s 2-0 win against Dordrecht.