USMNT REWIND: Chris Richards Scores First Bundesliga Goal; Sean Johnson, James Sands Propel NYCFC to MLS Cup

By: Michael LewisDecember 13, 2021

Chris Richards demonstrated Saturday that he can have a flair for the dramatic, even as a defender.

The U.S. Men’s National Team defender could not have picked a better time to score his first Bundesliga goal, with the 21-year-old nodding home David Raum's corner kick from six yards past goalkeeper Mark Flekken to lift Hoffenheim to a 2-1 win at Freiburg.

The Birmingham, Ala. native also has an assist this season while starting seven of his 13 league matches for the German side. Richards also played two minutes at left back for Bayern Munich before he was loaned back to now fourth-place Hoffenheim (8-5-2,24 points), which is only a point behind Bayer Leverkusen (8-4-3, 27).

THAT CHAMPIONSHIP FEELING

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson and midfielder/defender James Sands have won two medals this year - one for club, the other for country. Their latest came on Saturday when visiting New York City FC defeated the Portland Timbers 4-2 on penalty kicks to clinch the club’s first MLS Cup title. The shootout followed a 1-1 draw which saw Portland force extra time through Felipe Mora’s equalizer four minutes into stoppage time.

Johnson's heroics came early in the shootout. He dove to his right to deny Felipe Mora on Portland’s first attempt and then swatted away Diego Valeri’s try with his right hand in the second round, which led the veteran goalkeeper to earn MLS Cup MVP honors. Sands, who made his USMNT debut this year, played a solid game on both sides of the ball for City.

Both players were part of the U.S. squad that captured the Concacaf Gold Cup last summer, as the USMNT defeated Mexico in the final, 1-0.

THE SEASON OF GIVING

In the spirit of the holiday season, several USMNT players were in the giving mood last week:

Playing as a wing back as a 65th-minute substitute against Zenit St. Petersburg, Christian Pulisic dished a superb 85^th minute assist to Timo Werner to help Chelsea to a 3-3 draw in their Champions League Group H finale on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Pulisic played a one-two with Hakim Ziyech before setting up Werner for a 3-2 lead. The hosts equalized in injury time, denying the defending champions the group title, which was claimed by Juventus.

Brenden Aaronson helped put a bow on Red Bull Salzburg's 5-0 rout of WSG Tirol on Saturday in the Austria Bundesliga, slotting Karim-David Adeyemi through for his third goal in the 83^rd minute. The win leaves Salzburg (14-1-3; 45 pts.) with a 14-point cushion at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga table at the league’s winter break.

Nicholas Gioacchini played only the final 13 minutes for Montpellier in its 4-0 trouncing of Brest in French Ligue 1, but he still found time to make heads turn with a pretty assist. The striker's interception and brilliant run set up Valère Germain on the last goal of the match in the 85th minute.

INTO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND

With the group stage now complete, five U.S. internationals helped their clubs to a top-two finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League knockout round: Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Pulisic (Chelsea), Zack Steffen (Manchester City) and Tim Weah (Lille).

Three more players will still be active in Europe after helping their clubs to third place finishes and qualification to the Europa League knockout round: Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) and Sergiño Dest (Barcelona).

Nine USMNT players performed in the UCL year, tying the record set in 2020. Steffen became the ninth participant, starting for Man City last week. He joined Adams (RB Leipzig), John Brooks (Wolfsburg), Dest Jordan Pefok (Young Boys), Aaronson, McKennie, Pulisic and Weah.

FULL RUNDOWN

-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 19 minutes as a substitute in 4-1 win vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (Dec. 11); 27 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Manchester City in UCL (Dec. 7)

-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austria Bundesliga) - 90 minutes and an ASSIST in 5-0 win vs. WSG Tirol (Dec. 11); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Sevilla in UCL (Dec. 8)

-- Tyler Boyd (Rizespor; Turkish Super Lig) - 71 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Goztepe (Dec. 11)

-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Germany Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Stuttgart (Dec. 11); In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss vs. Lille (Dec. 8)

-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Juventus (Dec. 11)

-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 26 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Sporting Lisbon (Dec. 11)

-- Christian Cappis (Brøndby; Danish Superliga) - 45 minutes in 2-1 win at Midtjylland in DBU Cup (Dec. 12); 29 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Sparta Prague in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Motherwell (Dec. 12); Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Real Betis in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - 45 minutes in 1-0 loss a t RB Bragantino (Dec. 9); In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Atletico Goianiense (Dec. 6)

-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Strasbourg (Dec. 12); 82 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Lokomotiv Moscow in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles; Dutch Eredivisie) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Vitesse (Dec. 12)

-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 2-2 draw at Osasuna (Dec. 12); 45 minutes in 3-0 loss at Bayern Munich in UCL (Dec. 8)

-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) - 13 minutes as a substitute and an ASSIST in 4-0 win at Brest (Dec. 11)

-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Union Berlin (Dec. 12)

-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 4-1 win at Swansea City (Dec. 11)

-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 120 minutes in 1-1 draw at Portland Timbers (won in PKs, 4-2) in MLS Cup final (Dec. 11)

-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Gent (Dec. 12); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Rapid Wien in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Matt Miazga (Alaves; Spanish Primera) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Getafe (Dec. 11)

-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Segunda Division) - 71 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Lugo (Dec. 11)

-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 1 minute as a substitute in 2-1 win vs. Elche (Dec. 11)

-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Bordeaux (Dec. 12)

-- Jordan Pefok (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 90 minutes in 4-3 win vs. Sion (Dec. 12); 62 minutes in 1-1 draw at Manchester United in UCL (Dec. 8)

-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Leeds United (Dec. 11); 25 minutes as a substitute in 3-3 draw at Zenit St. Petersburg in UCL (Dec. 8)

-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Luton Town (Dec. 11)

-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 1-1 draw at Bochum (Dec. 11); Injured, DNP in 5-0 win vs. Besiktas in UCL (Dec. 7)

-- Bryan Reynolds (Roma; Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 win at CSKA Sofia in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim; German Bundesliga) - 90 minutes and a GOAL in 2-1 win at Freiburg (Dec. 11)

-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - In 18, DNP in 1-1 draw at Luton Town (Dec. 11)

-- James Sands (New York City FC; MLS) - 120 minutes in 1-1 draw at Portland Timbers (won in PKs, 4-2) in MLS Cup final (Dec. 11)

-- Josh Sargent (Norwich City; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Manchester United (Dec. 11)

-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 4-2 loss at RB Leipzig (Dec. 11)

-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Dec. 11); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at RB Leipzig in UCL (Dec. 7)

-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - 26 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Juventus (Dec. 11)

-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) - 90 minutes in 3-2 loss vs. Standard Liege (Dec. 12); Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. Olympiakos in Europa League (Dec. 9)

-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) - Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 win at Wolfsburg in UCL (Dec. 8)

-- DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray; Turkish Super Lig) - At Sivasspor (Monday, 10 a.m. ET); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Lazio in Europa League (Dec. 9)

Go Deeper

MNT