BETWEEN ITS DISASTROUS SHOWING in the 2015 Gold Cup and that dreadful display against Brazil on September 8, Jurgen Klinsmann and U.S. Soccer haven't had much to celebrate in recent weeks. But the flurry of goals scored by Americans over the past two days could change all of that. 

Here's a quick look at some of the performances that could help lighten the mood around federation headquarters as the team prepares for the CONCACAF Cup on October 10.

Fabian Johnson makes stellar return

Fabian Johnson might be the best American player in the game and he has been out the past five weeks. As the lone American participating in the Champions League group stages, his absence has hurt both the U.S. national team and his club, Borussia Monchengladbach, which began the day with zero points in the Bundesliga.

Well, Johnson was named to the starting lineup today, playing midfield, and he promptly scored in the fifth minute of the game as 'Gladbach routed Augsburg 4-2.

Now that is how you make a return from injury. Monchengladbach were a completely different team with him on the field.

Bobby Wood’s outstanding strike

American forward Bobby Wood found the back of net on Wednesday for Union Berlin—his second goal in three games and his third of the season. The Honolulu native is beginning to hit his stride ahead of the Mexico clash, which should give Jurgen Klinsmann a badly needed offensive option.

Here is video of #usmnt forward Bobby Wood's goal today for Union Berlin in 2-3 loss to FSV Frankfurt http://t.co/vOLkEbyUGP

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) September 23, 2015

Union Berlin lost to FSV Frankfurt, incidentally, but Wood’s goal was one of the most impressive moments of the game.

Aron Johannsson hitting his stride

Entering Tuesday’s game against Darmstadt, Aron Johannsson had yet to score from the run of play for Werder Bermen. Since signing with the club, his only goal had come from the penalty spot.

That changed early in the contest when he headed home a wonderful cross by Theodor Gebre Selassie in the 19th minute. It was his second goal in six Bundesliga appearances.

While Werder Bremen lost the game 2-1, it appears as if Johannsson is settling into the Bundesliga.

Rubio Rubin seals Utrecht’s win

Rubio Rubin’s minutes have gone down to start this season but the Oregon native might see his playing time increase in the weeks ahead. Utrecht still consider Rubin to be a prized possession and did not release him for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament.

On Tuesday he scored his first goal of the season in the Dutch Cup in a 2-0 win over ONS Sneek. Rubin earned the start and his goal came in the fourth minute of stoppage time in one of the last plays of the game.

Yedlin assists in Sunderland debut

Sunderland are struggling mightily in the Premier League and sit in last place. On Tuesday, it faced off against a powerful Manchester City team and it was a mismatch. Man City won the game 4-1 but DeAndre Yedlin played well where he notched an assist, had a goal-line clearance, and looked dangerous moving forward. It wasn’t perfect but for only his second club game of 2015, it was a very good outing.

DeAndre Yedlin debut for Sunderland (vs MCFC) in 3 clips. #SAFC #USMNT pic.twitter.com/XKL3dBtSno

— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) September 23, 2015

Following the game, Yedlin earned the praise of Sunderland coach Dick Advocaat. “Yedlin did really well for his first game,” Advocaat said. “He needs to get to know the players better but I was pleased with the space he found himself in and his work rate."

Shawn Barry scores as FSV rises

While most American fans were following national team striker Bobby Wood in this game, it was Florida native Shawn Barry, 25, who had the last laugh. The former University of Virginia midfielder/defender scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 win which put FSV Frankfurt into seventh place.

Here's video of American midfielder & UVa grad Shawn Barry's goal for FSV Frankfurt in 3-2 win over Union Berlin http://t.co/zJmpHuGq2B

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) September 23, 2015

Quietly, Barry is becoming a more important player with FSV after joining the club from LASK Linz—a team has been toiling in the lower divisions of Austria.

Bjorn Maars Johnsen scores wonder goal

New York-born but North Carolina- raised Bjorn Maars Johnsen, 23, scored for the third time in three games for Bulgarian leaders Litex Lovech on Tuesday in a 3-0 win over Lokomotiv Mezdra in the Bulgarian Cup.

Quite frankly, if this wasn’t the nicest goal scored by an American in top-flight European competition this year, we’re not sure what is.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.