ASN: Pulisic Prevails as American Teenagers Tangle in Germany

Two outstanding Yanks squared off this previous weekend, and the extra skilled 19-year-old prevailed over his counterpart and good friend. Brian Sciaretta shares the newest updates on Yanks taking part in overseas. 

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Brian Sciaretta

Posted
November 27, 2017
1:00 PM

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THE BIG STORY coming into the weekend was Christian Pulisic and Weston Mckennie going through off in opposition to one another for the primary time within the Bundesliga. Whereas it was an entertaining recreation, it was additionally revealing that proficient gamers like McKennie will hit bumps alongside the best way as they develop. However McKennie was not the one younger American overseas who has had a tough time.  

Listed here are my 5 ideas from the weekend.

Classes for 4 younger Yanks

There isn’t a query that Saturday’s recreation between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund was an thrilling event for American followers as two nationwide group youngsters have been within the beginning lineup. Within the first half, Pulisic was sharp and helped arrange the primary purpose. However, it was a tough recreation for McKennie who struggled early and was pulled earlier than halftime after struggling to get something going offensively or serving to in possession.

The Texan had performed in opposition to different high German groups like Bayern Munich, however he had been regularly getting extra duty on the sphere. After he was eliminated, Schalke made a surprising comeback from 4-0 right down to tie the sport 4-4. Transferring ahead will McKennie stay within the beginning lineup or will he need to earn that spot again?

The identical might be mentioned for Shaq Moore, 21, who has seemed efficient for Levante in his first few appearances however was given the beginning at proper again in opposition to a strong Atletico Madrid. Moore was respectable early however was regularly overwhelmed, like the remainder of his teammates, en path to a 5-0 defeat.

Then there was Antonee Robinson, 20, who has been incomes rave evaluations since taking up the beginning left again place at Bolton within the Championship (the place he’s on mortgage from Everton). On Saturday, Robinson was in all probability the very best participant on Bolton—which isn’t saying a lot as everybody was poor in a 5-1 loss to Wolverhampton.  

However, Cameron Carter-Vickers appears like he might be combating by way of a tough patch with Sheffield United. Through the midweek he had a nightmare in a 5-4 loss to Fulham the place he gifted away a purpose and usually seemed unsteady. As an alternative of being benched, Carter-Vickers was named to the beginning lineup on Saturday in opposition to Birmingham Metropolis. Whereas he was taken out within the 68th minute with United down 1-0, Carter-Vickers was noticeably improved and United fought again for a 1-1 draw. 

It was by no means going to be a clean experience for all of those younger gamers. But when they will battle by way of these tough patches, they are going to be mentally stronger and higher general gamers.

Matt Miazga scores winner

Final week was not a superb one for Matt Miazga and Vitesse which misplaced to Groningen 4-1. However after a 1-1 draw with Lazio in Rome within the Europa league, issues began to development upward. This previous weekend, nonetheless, couldn’t have been any higher as Miazga netted the game-winning purpose and was a part of a backline that helped preserve a clear sheet in a 2-0 win over ADO Den Haag on Sunday.

Miazga, 22, is in a golden place to construct a case to be a beginning central defender for the US nationwide group, no matter who the coach shall be. Assuming John Brooks is a set starter, not one of the different candidates have a resume as sturdy as Miazga. Sunday was simply one other sturdy efficiency in what has been an excellent 2017 for the New Jersey native.

Boyd shines for Duisburg

Probably the greatest performances by an American in Europe surprisingly got here from Terrence Boyd, 26, who scored a pair of targets for Darmstadt in a 3-3 highway draw in opposition to Union Berlin. After fighting accidents for years after which solely slowly getting concerned within the first group at Darmstadt, Boyd turned in certainly one of his greatest video games in years.

Boyd scored his first purpose within the 51st minute to even the rating at 1-1.

Then he scored once more within the 61st minute to as soon as once more equalize at 2-2.

From a nationwide group perspective, the depth pool at ahead is skinny and gamers are both older (Clint Dempsey), of damage concern (Bobby Wooden), or unproven (CJ Sapong, Jordan Morris, Josh Sargent). Boyd shall be 31 in 2022 however there’s quite a lot of necessary video games between at times. Boyd can definitely be within the combine to serve a job.

Amon scores in first begin

Quietly and beneath the radar, American teenager Jonathan Amon, 18, is impressing in Denmark. After a number of strong substitute appearances, the South Carolina native earned his first skilled begin for FC Nordsjaelland on Sunday at left wing in opposition to AC Horsens.

Within the fifty fifth minute, Amon scored his first profession purpose in what was a 6-0 rout. It was a powerful transfer as he reduce inside to obtain a by way of ball that put him previous Horsens protection. He fought off the defenders from behind to fireplace dwelling a low shot.

With the win, Nordsjaelland remained in third place within the Danish Superliga.

Gonzalez, Monterrey in Liga MX semis

Jonathan Gonzalez, 18, is one step nearer to finishing a dream first season as an expert. First he broke into the membership’s beginning lineup and helped cause them to first place within the common season. Now the Californian has helped put Monterrey into the semifinals of the Liga MX playoffs after a 4-1 win (6-2 on mixture) over Atlas on Sunday night time.

Gonzalez had two of his greatest video games of the season on this collection the place he performed a full 180 minutes. He was consistently on the ball and has now turn into a focus of the possession recreation. In his first few months he excelled at ball-winning and forcing turnovers. Now he appears to be taking his recreation to a different stage.

indication was within the first leg when he despatched a pleasant looping ball into the field as a part of the build-up to the second purpose which was scored by Rogelio Funes Mori.