American Players Abroad

Brisbane Roar plays its final A-League match of the season Thursday without any hope of qualifying for the Finals series, but it does present 25-year-old American Shea Connors with an opportunity to add one final flourish to a breakthrough season in Australia's top division.

The Roar were in action Monday against Newcastle Jets with Connors partnering Australian international Larissa Crummer in attack. The St. John's University graduate had four goals in 11 league appearances entering the game and she added two more to move joint-sixth in the division in total goals.  

Juventus eked out a 1-0 win over Spezia on Sunday, maintaining its grip on a top-four place in Serie A. After the match, Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri broke some bad news to Juve and USMNT fans with a Weston McKennie injury update: The Texan is done for the season.

Christian Pulisic had a beautiful assist and a goal against Burnley on Saturday during Chelsea’s comfortable 4-0 victory. The Blues had a muted first half that ended goalless, however a flash flood of three Chelsea goals in seven minutes at the start of the second half saw the game slip away from Burnley. This perfect Pulisic assist vs Burnley made the score 2-0.

Pulisic Assist vs Burnley

Pulisic lofts a perfect ball to the back post for Kai Havertz to head home! Chelsea now have 2-0 lead.

No matter the sport, pregame press conferences are pretty much all the same. How has training gone this week, what about that result last week, who do you have to watch for on the other team, will that injured player be healthy, blah blah blah ad nauseum. Most of the time, it’s banal shit, only put up with by journalists who require it for their jobs and superfans who devour every bit of information about their team. 

The arrival of Jesse Marsch in the Premier League as Leeds United manager marks the third instance of an American guiding a soccer franchise in Britain's Major Top League (The BMTL). He'll need all his dudes on board if he wants to make the playoffs, but there's probably a Brazilian available in the draft if they tank so it's all good.

Jesse Marsch is rumored to fill the position of Marcelo Bielsa as manager of Leeds United after the club suffered a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday. If Marsch gets the job then you might ask, how many American managers have been in the Premier League? The Wisconsin native would become the third American to manage an EPL club.

Americans tuning in to Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday watched in horror as the Old Lady’s young American limped off injured in the 81st minute. The Weston McKennie injury is a broken foot, according to reports, putting into doubt his ability to participate in vital World Cup qualifiers for the USMNT next month.