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News analysis

Reyna scores wonder goal, Holmes still red hot, other Americans win, & more

Gio Reyna's goal will be talked about for a long time. After a series of cameos to start his first-team BvB career, his goal on Tuesday marked a grande entrance. Meanwhile, Duane Holmes continued his red hot form and a bunch of other Americans won. For Josh Gatt, the story remained the same. ASN's Brian Sciaretta reports. 
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
February 04, 2020
12:55 PM

IT WASN’T expected to be a big day for American Soccer but that’s how it turned out to be with several key players in action in cup games and one of the country’s top young players hitting a magnificent first professional goal.

Reyna’s wonder goal


In the third round of the German Cup, Werder Bremen hosted Borussia Dortmund and both Josh Sargent and Gio Reyna were on the bench for their respective clubs.

The first half was all Werder Bremen with the hosts taking a 2-0 lead into the break. Sargent came into the game in the 49th minute and Reyna came in in the 66th minute. One minute after Reyna came into the game, Norwegian sensation Erling Haland cut the deficit in half. But Werder extended the deficit to two with another goal three minutes later.

Then in the 78th minute Reyna scored a goal for the ages when he showed a unique ability to control the ball in tight space, beat three defenders, and then unleash an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

It’s worthless to describe, so just watch it.

 

It almost doesn’t even matter that Reyna’s team lost. With that goal, the son of the former U.S. national team captain showed his class and his potential. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not he will play with the U-23 team for the Olympics the next few months or the full national team.



Holmes scores in Derby rout


Duane Holmes has been playing his best soccer of the season over the past month where he has been one of Derby County’s impact players. Aided by the arrival of Wayne Rooney, Holmes has played to his potential.

On Tuesday, Holmes got the start for Derby against fourth-tier League Two’s Northampton Town in the FA Cup.

In the 35th minute with Derby County up 1-0, Holmes doubled the lead when he took advantage of holes in the defense to get on the end of a pass and fire home from close range. With the goal, Holmes now has two goals and two assists over his last six games across all competitions.

 

Holmes is now in significantly better position for a return to the U.S. national team in the coming months than he was in the fall. While his omissions was viewed as controversial in October in November, Holmes still only had one assists and no goals in the first half of the season. His form has greatly improved now and it would be surprising if he is left off in March if he keeps this form up.

McKennie, Yedlin, Chandler, and Gioacchini all post wins


There were numerous other Americans who all were part of nice wins, even if they weren’t on the scoresheet.

Weston McKennie was on the bench for Schalke’s German Cup matchup against Hertha BSC. Jurgen Klinsmann’s Hertha squad had a 2-0 lead on the road at halftime

McKenne came into the game in the 60th minute with his team still trailing 2-0. But Daniel Caligiuri goal in the 76th and Amine Harit’s goal in the 82nd sent the game into extra time. Benito Raman eventually won it for Schalke in the 115th minute. McKennie, however, was injured during his appearance and was not at 100%. 

EDIT: McKennie missed practice on Wednesday

Next up for Schalke is a trip to the quarterfinals of the German Cup.

Also in the German Cup, Timothy Chandler came in the 81st minute for Eintracht Frankfurt in a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig (where Tyler Adams was an unused substitute for Leipzig). The game was 2-1 when Chandler entered the game and the American was on the field for the final goal in stoppage time.

In a fourth-round replay in the FA Cup, DeAndre Yedlin started and played a full 120 minutes for Newcastle United in a 3-2 away win over third tier League One team Oxford United.

In France’s Ligue 2, Kansas City native Niko Gioacchini earned the start for SM Caen against relegation fodder Chamois Niortais. The game was wild and back an fourth with SM Caen prevailing 4-3. Gioacchini, 19, went the distance although did not register a goal or an assist. This season, the American forward has two goals in 11 Ligue 2 games (797 minutes) and another goal over one appearance in the Coupe de France where he played 90 minutes.



Gatt injured again


In a bit of sad news, Josh Gatt has been on trial with reigning League of Ireland champs Dundalk FC and played today in a friendly against Longford Town.

Gatt, 28, was playing very well by all reports but then came up injured again. Gatt was once a promising young American player but has seen his career completely derailed by repeated knee injuries. Hopefully, this latest injury is not serious.

 

 

 

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