It’s not everyday that Americans exchange goals in the 2. Bundesliga, but that was the case on Sunday when Julian Green’s Fürth defeated Leon Flach’s St. Pauli 2-1.
The 25-year-old Green hasn’t played for the U.S. since 2018 and has fallen down the attacking midfield depth chart at the international level, but he opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 24th-minute in a man of the match display.
Given the fact that Christian Pulisic had already missed time this year because of a calf strain, major hamstring tear and subsequent hamstring complaint, it was surprising to see the American in Chelsea’s starting lineup on Monday after going the full 90 against Arsenal on Saturday, but it affirmed the fact that Frank Lampard saw the American as a lone bright spot in that 3-1 defeat.
Watching Gio Reyna play week in and week out for one of the best clubs in Europe, it’s easy to forget he only just turned 18 last month. Fortunately, the voters of U.S. Soccer’s 2020 Young Male Player of the Year award didn’t forget, awarding the Borussia Dortmund star the honor on Tuesday following previous nominations in 2018 and 2019.
Real Salt Lake icon and longtime U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Kyle Beckerman retired Monday following a 21-year professional career.
"What a ride it's been. My playing days have come to an end, but I step away with a full heart and a lifetime of memories," the 38-year-old posted on social media. "I've had a career the younger me could never have imagined."
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is your U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, the USSF announced on Friday. The 22-year-old edged out last year’s winner Christian Pulisic to become the fourth-youngest recipient. The 2020 USMNT Player of the Year award comes at a time when more Americans are excelling at top European clubs, but McKennie was the perfect choice this year.
Weston McKennie’s incredible form for Juventus — two goals and an assist in his last three games — should’ve continued (statistically speaking) on Wednesday in the 11th minute of his club’s Serie A encounter with Atalanta.
The 22-year-old American won the ball in midfield and carried it at the heart of the defense before playing through Álvaro Morata. Before watching the video, know that the Spanish striker was onside.
Weston McKennie has forced his way into Juventus’ starting 11 for the foreseeable future with a hugely impressive eight-day period that culminated with another league assist during Sunday’s 3-1 win over Genoa.
I think we can all agree 2020 has been a really great year, right?
Sure, there was a global shutdown because of a horrible pandemic that has killed more than 1.5 million worldwide. And yes, there was a nasty U.S. presidential election in which a record number of people voted for the candidate you didn’t like. Oh and let’s not forget about climate change creating increasingly deadly and costly weather-related destruction.
But you know what? The USMNT and USWNT finished undefeated in 2020. So, overall, pretty good year.
With the entire globe tuning in to watch Lionel Messi play Cristiano Ronaldo for perhaps the final time, who could’ve predicted that the first half between Barcelona and Juventus would be dominated by dueling Americans Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie?
Juve controlled possession at the Camp Nou in the opening 45 minutes, so it was Dest who featured most heavily for Barcelona on both defense and with the ball — only Miralem Pjanić had more touches for Barça.
Gregg Berhalter, you sly dog.
18-year-old phenom Efraín Álvarez hasn’t filed a one-time switch from Mexico to the USMNT yet, but that hasn’t stopped Berhalter from luring Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cub into camp, showering him with praise and raising the pulse of Tri supporters everywhere.