USMNT Rewind: Bundesliga Trio of Reyna, Brooks and Adams Qualify for Champions League

At least three U.S. Men's National Team players from the Bundesliga will find themselves competing in the UEFA Champions League next season.

 

The German clubs of Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig) and John Brooks (Wolfsburg) have secured berths in the most competitive club competition in the world. And depending on what transpires in the offseason, Chris Richards, who played for Hoffenheim while on loan from Bayern Munich this season, could join them. Richards made three appearances for Bayern before his loan in January.

 

While he wasn’t involved in any goals, it still turned into one memorable week for Reyna. On Thursday, he came on late in Dortmund's 4-1 defeat of RB Leipzig in the German DFB Pokal Final. At 18 years, 182 days, Reyna’s cameo made him the youngest USMNT player to appear in a domestic cup final in Europe.

 

Gio Reyna into the DFB Pokal Final late with @BlackYellow on their way to the 🏆.

Milestone for Gio! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tx1Fo6c44D

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 13, 2021

 

 

He followed that up Sunday, playing 76 minutes in a 3-1 victory at Mainz to confirm Dortmund’s Champions League participation for a fifth-straight season.

 

Brooks, a stalwart at center back for club and country, helped Wolfsburg book a spot in next year's competition in a 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig. The veteran defender has appeared in 31 of the club’s 33 league matches this season, helping the side to a 16-5-9 record and 13 clean sheets in matches that he’s played. The 28-year-old is now on the cusp of making his first Champions League appearance next season.

 

While RB Leipzig already reached the UCL, the club’s 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg confirmed their second-place finish in the Bundesliga this season. Adams did not play in Thursday’s DFB Pokal Final or Sunday’s clash with Wolfsburg due to a back injury.

 

Three big contributors on three of the @Bundesliga_EN's @ChampionsLeague qualifiers this season:

🇺🇸 @tyler_adams14 (27 GP)
🇺🇸 Gio Reyna (31 GP)
🇺🇸 @j_brooks25 (31 GP)

Well done guys! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/jXSToCsM6n

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 16, 2021

 

 

The three UCL qualifiers have a fellow American to thank for clinching with a week left in the season. Uncapped U.S. striker Matthew Hoppe made the most of his 45 minutes in Schalke's 4-3 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, recording a goal and an assist within a four-minute span in the second half. He assisted on Florian Flick's score on the hour before scoring himself in the 64th minute. It was Hoppe's sixth goal of the Bundesliga season and first since a 2-1 loss to Köln on Jan. 20.

 

 

 

Though already relegated, Schalke’s win pulled Eintracht Frankfurt down to fifth, leaving them unable to finish in the top four.

 AARONSON, STEFFEN WIN LEAGUE TITLES

Less than two weeks after scoring and winning the Austrian Cup with Red Bull Salzburg, 20-year-old midfielder Brenden Aaronson lifted another trophy on Wednesday as the club defeated Rapid Wien 2-0 to clinch the Austrian Bundesliga title.

 

FT. Brenden Aaronson plays 90 minutes as @FCRBS_en defeats Rapid Wien 2-0.

With the win, Brenden Aaronson and @RedBullSalzburg have clinched the Austrian Bundesliga (and the 🇦🇹 Double!)🏆🏆

Congrats Brenden! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/abjUSFGEx0

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 12, 2021

 

 

Aaronson started the match and made way for Noah Okafor in second-half stoppage time as Salzburg claimed its eighth-consecutive league title. The league and cup double represent the second and third piece of hardware Aaronson has won in the last seven months, previously lifting the MLS Supporters Shield with the Philadelphia Union last fall.

 

A product of the Union Academy, Aaronson has registered seven goals and three assists in 24 matches across all competitions since joining Salzburg in January.

 

ICYMI, @zacksteffen_ celebrates becoming the first #USMNT player to win the @PLinUSA. 🏆

CONGRATS ZACK! 👊🇺🇸

🎥: a.eppes on Instagram pic.twitter.com/PnR2TfglKq

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 12, 2021

 

 

Meantime, goalkeeper Zack Steffen became the first USMNT player to win the Premier League title as Manchester City were confirmed champions following Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester City last Tuesday.

 

 

FA CUP FINAL

 

Dreams of claiming the English FA Cup were dashed for Christian Pulisic and Chelsea when the club fell 1-0 to Leicester City in the final at Wembley on Saturday. Youri Tielemans’ 63^rd minute strike put Leicester ahead and Pulisic entered the match five minutes later to help Chelsea find an equalizer. The Blues thought they had forced extra time when Leicester conceded a late own goal, but VAR review judged that Chelsea’s Ben Chillwell was offside in the build-up to the goal.

 

Christian Pulisic follows an old teammate as the second #USMNT player to make multiple appearances in the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #FACupFinal. pic.twitter.com/a22QtgS2bZ

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 15, 2021

 

 

Pulisic became the second USMNT player to perform in two FA Cup finals, following in the footsteps of former teammate Tim Howard. The Hershey, Pa. product appeared in last year's championship match, scoring in the fifth minute before a hamstring injury forced him out just after halftime. Howard won the 2004 edition with Manchester United and finished as runner-up with Everton in 2009.

Still battling to ensure Champions League qualification four next season, Pulisic and fourth-place Chelsea get an immediate rematch with Leicester in Premier League play Tuesday, before closing the season at Aston Villa on Sunday. Chelsea sits one point ahead of Liverpool going into their last two matches.

 

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Midfielder Weston McKennie came off the bench in the 58^th minute to help Juventus close out a 3-2 win against already confirmed Serie A champions Inter Milan on Saturday. While the win temporarily moved Juventus back into Italy’s top four, they were pushed back down to fifth following other results on Sunday.

Juventus now face a pressure-filled week, facing Atalanta in the Coppa Italia Final on Wednesday before closing out the Serie A campaign at Bologna on Sunday. Sitting one point back of third-place Napoli and fourth-place AC Milan, to secure a Champions League berth the Bianconeri will need to win their last match with hopes that one of their rivals drop points on the final day.

 

Striker Jordan Siebatcheu went the entire way and scored a goal in Young Boys' 2-0 win over Vaduz in the Swiss Super League on Tuesday.

 

Defender Reggie Cannon went the entire 90 minutes as Boavista registered a 1-0 win over Portimonense in Portugal on Saturday to move the side two points clear of the Primeira Liga’s relegation playoff. Boavista visits Gil Vicente in its season finale on Wednesday.

 

Forward Josh Sargent and Werder Bremen found themselves in the relegation playoff zone and in 16th place out of 18 teams in the Bundesliga after dropping a 2-0 result at Augsburg on Saturday. In response, Bremen dismissed head coach Florian Kohfeldt and appointed former manager Thomas Schaaf to oversee Saturday’s regular season finale against Borussia Mönchengladbach and a potential relegation playoff series the following week.

 

 

MLS HIGHLIGHTS

 

Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore opened their accounts for the season, providing the two goals for Toronto FC in its 2-0 win against visiting Columbus SC on Wednesday. Bradley lifted the hosts into a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute and Altidore, a 62nd-minute substitute, gave them some breathing room in the 87th minute.

 

 

 

Saturday proved a big night for Sebastian Lletget and Julian Araujo, helping the Galaxy to a 2-0 win against Austin FC. Lletget tallied his first goal of the season in the 35th minute and Araujo set up Javier Hernandez's insurance strike in the 77th minute.

 

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Sam Vines pushed the Colorado Rapids on their way to a 3-1 home triumph over the Houston Dynamo, slamming home a one-time effort from the top of the box in the 29th minute on Saturday. It was the second goal of his MLS career.  

 

ICYMI, this strike from Sam Vines last night was 🔥.

The 21-year-old left back opened the scoring in @ColoradoRapids' 3-1 win vs. @HoustonDynamo. pic.twitter.com/deKuQVgJBi
(@MLS)

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 16, 2021

 

 

 

FULL RUNDOWN:

 

 

-- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (May 15)

 

-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) – 64 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Orlando City SC (May 16); 15 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Chicago Fire FC (May 13)

 

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – Injured, DNP in 2-2 draw vs. Wolfsburg (May 16); Injured, DNP in 4-1 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund in DFB Pokal (May 13)

 

-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - 18 minutes as a substitute in 5-2 win at LASK (May 16); 89 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Rapid Wien (May 12)

 

-- Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC; MLS) - 62 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York City FC (May 15); 28 minutes as a substitute and a GOAL in 2-0 win vs. Columbus Crew (May 12)

 

-- Julian Araujo (Los Angeles Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-0 win vs. Austin Fc (May 15)

 

-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. CF Montreal (May 15)

 

-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig (May 16)

 

-- Tyler Boyd (Sivasspor, Turkish Super Lig) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Kasimpasa (May 15); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Fenerbahce (May 11)

 

-- Michael Bradley (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at New York City FC (May 15); 90 minutes and a GOAL in 2-0 win vs. Columbus SC (May 12)

 

-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Deportivo Tachira in Copa Libertadores (May 11)

 

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Portimonense (May 15); 81 minutes in 1-0 loss at Sporting CP (May 11)

 

-- Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Portland Timbes (May 15); 66 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Seattle Sounders (May 12)

 

-- Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona; Spain La Liga/Segunda B) - 120 minutes in 2-2 draw at UCAM Murcia (lost in PKs, 5-4) (May 16); Not in 18, DNP in 3-3 draw at Levante (May 11)

 

-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 5-0 loss at AZ (May 16); 89 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Feyenoord (May 13)

 

-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) – 26 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss vs. Celta Vigo (May 16); 9 minutes as a substitute in 3-3 draw at Levante (May 11)

 

-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 45 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Clermont (May 15)

 

-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Second Bundesliga) – 84 minutes in 4-2 win at Paderborn (May 16)

 

-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) - 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 1-0 win vs. CF Montreal (May 15)

 

-- Matthew Hoppe (Schalke 04; German Bundesliga) - 45 minutes as a substitute and GOAL and ASSIST in 4-3 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (May 15); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Hertha Berlin (May 12)

 

-- Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge; Belgian Pro League) - In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Antwerp (May 16); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Antwerp (May 13)

 

-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Toronto FC (May 15)

 

-- Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP 90 in 3-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (May 15)

 

-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 62 minutes and GOAL in 2-0 win vs. Austin FC (May 15)

 

-- Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (May 15)

 

-- Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 32 minutes as a substitute in 3-2 win vs. Inter (May 15); 9 minutes as a substitute in 3-1 win at Sassuolo (May 12)

 

-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Anderlecht in Jupiler Cup (May 15); In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Anderlecht in Jupiler Cup (May 12)

 

-- Matt Miazga (Anderlecht; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Genk in Jupiler Cup (May 15); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Genk in Jupiler Cup (May 12)

 

-- Djordje Milhailovic (CF Montreal; MLS) - 11 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss at Atlanta United (May 15)

 

-- Alfredo Morales (New York City FC; MLS) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Toronto FC (May 15)

 

-- Chris Mueller (Orlando City; MLS) - 8 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at D.C. United (May 16)

 

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - Not 18, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Eibar (May 16); 8 minutes in 1-0 loss at Sevilla (May 12)

 

-- David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; MLS) - 90 minutes and a SHUTOUT in 0-0 draw vs. Nashville SC (May 15)

 

-- Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers; English Premier League) - Injured, DNP in 2-0 loss at Tottenham (May 16)

 

-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Austria Wien; Austria Bundesliga) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. St. Polten (May 15); 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Hartberg (May 11)

 

-- Andrés Perea (Orlando City; MLS) - 20 minutes as a substitute 1-0 win at D.C. United (May 16)

 

-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) – 22 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 loss vs. Leicester City in FA Cup final (May 15); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Arsenal (May 12)

 

-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Southampton (May 15) In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Burnley (May 10)

 

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 76 minutes in 3-1 win at Mainz 05 (May 16); 1 minute in 4-1 vs. RB Leipzig in DFB Pokal in Berlin (May 13)

 

-- Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma, Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win vs. Lazio (May 15); In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Inter (May 12)

 

-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Arminia Bielefeld (May 15)

 

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Southampton (May 15); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Burnley (May 10)

 

-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. CF Montreal (May 15)

 

-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-0 win vs. Los Angeles FC (May 16)

 

-- Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Augsburg (May 15)

 

-- Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - Not in 18, DNP in 5-2 win vs. Luzern (May 15); 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-0 win at Vaduz (May 11)

 

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – In 18, DNP in 4-3 win at Newcastle United (May 14)

 

-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 1-0 win vs. Columbus SC (May 16); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Philadelphia Union (May 12)

 

-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Saint-Etienne (May 16)

 

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - 45 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Yeni Malatyaspor (May 15); 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Denizlispor (May 11)

 

-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Portland Timbes (May 15); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Seattle Sounders (May 12)

 

-- Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes and GOAL in 3-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (May 15)

 

-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus SC; MLS) - 66 minutes in 1-0 loss at New England Revolution (May 16); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Toronto FC (May 12)

 

-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Real Salt Lake (May 15)