Americans abroad analysis
Yedlin & Pulisic lead goal-filled & exciting weekend for Americans abroad
There were a lot of great highlights this weekend among Americans abroad - and heading into an international break where the national team is struggling, it at least helped give some players momentum. ASN's Brian Sciaretta is here with his weekly deep dive
IT WAS A FUN weekend among Americans abroad which was not short of goals and strong performances. While the national team is struggling, this weekend provided a breath of fresh air ahead of the upcoming international window where the U.S. national team and U-23 national team will be in action.
Christian Pulisic is on one of the best runs of his career and it continued on Saturday during a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in a London Derby at Stamford Bridge
With Chelsea up 1-0 in the 79th minute, Pulisic doubled the lead with his fifth Premier League goal in his last three games. That has been mixed with strong recent outings in the Champions League.
But the goal only tells part of the performance. Pulisic was the best player on the field for the day and he was impressive in many phases.
Here is a look at some of his numbers.
With Newcastle trailing Bournemouth 1-0 in the 42nd minute, Yedlin equalized with a header that was just an overall good play. He read the play well in how his teammate, Allan Saint-Maximin was getting set for a cross. He spotted the open space and used his speed to make an aggressive run. He then executed a header for an emphatic finish. Overall, it was just a great play for the former Seattle Sounder.
In the second half, Newcastle would pull ahead for a 2-1 win.
Defensively, Yedlin was also important to the win. He had three tackles and three clearances. His passing percentage was north of 70%
After missing the Gold Cup, Newcastle’s preseason and the start to the season, Yedlin is certainly trending upward.
Julian Green, 24, is having a nice start to the 2.Bundesliga with Greuther Furth after subpar campaign in 2018/19. On Saturday, the Florida-born attacking midfielder score a free kick goal in the 14th minute that gave Greuther Furth a 1-0 lead on Sandhausen.
Unfortunately for Green and Furth, Sandhausen would eventually go on to win 3-2 but Green’s free kick was his fourth goal of the season. With the loss, Furth fell into fifth place of the 2.Bundesliga.
Emmanuel Sabbi was called up by the U.S. U-23 team for the upcoming tournament in Spain. But the winger is in the midst of a terrific run for Hobro and he scored his sixth goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against Nordsjaelland. It was his third straight game with a goal.
In the game, fellow American and U.S. U-23 teammate Christian Cappis went the distance in the win.
A bit test awaits both Cappis and Sabbi in Spain as the U.S. U-23 team will take on Brazil and either Argentina or Chile. But with Sabbi scoring goals like this, he could give the U.S. team an edge.
It hasn’t been easy for 2015 U.S. U-23 winger Gboli Ariyibi since joining Panetolikos in Greece. Panetolikos is one of the worst teams in the Greek Super League and is yet to win a game. The only reason why the team is not in last place is that Panionios was docked six points to start the year.
But Ariyibi’s goal was nice, if a bit fortunate as it took a deflection. But Panetolikos lost to Volos NFC 3-2 and will need to start wining goals soon before it loses too much ground in its likely relegation battle.
On Saturday, Schalke played Fortuna Dusseldorf to a 3-3 draw in a game where three Americans started and one, David Wagner, coached.
It was an unusual game for Americans as the status of two of the players was different. Zack Steffen started in goal for Fortuna although knee tendinitis forced him to withdraw from the U.S. team’s upcoming games. It was decided that he needed this international window to rest in order to prevent further injury.
Also, Weston McKennie started out of his main position in central defense. Meanwhile, U.S. international Alfredo Morales started in his normal central midfield position for Fortuna.
McKennie, while talented, is not a central defender and did not track a run which resulted in Fortuna’s final equalizing goal in the 85th minute. The sooner he returns to midfield, the better.
Morales was decent. He won six aerial duals, the most on his team. He was also credited with three interceptions.
Steffen, meanwhile, made two saves as Schalke scored three goals from five shots. He will now remain in Germany to rest through the international window.
Palmer-Brown assists
Erik Palmer-Brown has had a mixed time to start his loan with Austrian Vienna but on Sunday, the former Sporting Kansas City defender assisted to Thomas Ebner on his team’s second goal in a 2-1 win over Mattersburg.
With the win, Austria Vienna is pushing towards the top half of the Austrian Bundesliga table. For Palmer-Brown he needs to remain in the team’s starting lineup and perform well to break into the U.S. U-23 team. He was not part of the upcoming team for its tournament in Spain but was the U-20 World Cup captain in 2017 and has vast experience with many in the pool.
Sergino Dest hasn’t been playing much since his decision to commit to the U.S. national team two weeks ago. Instead, manager Erik ten Hag has been using fullbacks Nicolás Tagliafico and Noussair Mazraoui in place of Dest.
On Sunday, Dest was on the bench for Ajax for its home game against FC Utrecht but replaced Mazraoui in the 55th minute after it appeared Mazraoui had picked up an injury. It was the first Ajax appearance for Dest since he decided that he would represent the United States internationally over his native Holland.
Overall, it was a pretty easy game for Dest as Ajax had a 3-0 lead when he came on and end up winning 4-0. Dest made a few nice passes and was credited with an impressive four tackles. But if Mazraoui or Tafliafico are considered to be ahead of him, that is probably unchanged at the moment.
There were a number of American players in action in the English Championship over the weekend.
Duane Holmes, Matt Miazga, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, and Antonee Robinson all got starts. Cameron Carter-Vickers, after a rough midweek start for Stoke City, went as an unused substitute and Luca de la Torre earned a rare appearance on the bench for Fulham although he went as an unused sub as well.
Holmes, who was a tough cut from the U.S. national team roster, started for Derby County in a 1-0 away loss to a strong Nottingham Forest team that looks like it will contend for promotion this year. Holmes wasn’t quiet as creative with his passing but was feisty with his defense and was credited with five successful dribbles. He was subbed out in the 73rd minute.
Matt Maizga went a full 90 for Reading FC in a convincing 3-0 win over Luton Town. This result was never in doubt and Reading outshot Luton Town 17-4. Miazga was his usual dominant in the air and calm on the ball, but he was not seriously tested.
Antonee Robinson and Wigan suffered a tough loss 3-0 at home to Brentford. Robinson wasn’t as strong as he’s been over the past month but he wasn’t as bad as most of is teammates either. He wasn’t effective getting forward but defensively he helped limit Brentford on his side of the field.
Tim Ream will arrive with the U.S. national team in fine form as he went the distance for Fulham in a 1-0 away win over Birmingham City. Ream had his usual calm and steady performance. His pass completion was very high and he won most challenges that came his way.
Elsewhere, Eric Lichaj and Hull City fell to leaders West Brom 1-0 at home. Geoff Cameron and Queens Park Rangers drew Middlesbrough 2-2 at home.
It wasn’t just a great day for the Seattle Sounders, it was also a great day for Seattle Sounder alumni in Europe. In addition to DeAndre Yedlin’s goal for Newcastle, Henry Wingo was on the field as Molde clinched the Norwegian title.
Wingo, 24, was a homegrown signing for the Sounders in 2017 but transferred to Molde in August. He hasn’t played much but was subbed into Sunday’s 4-0 win over Stromgodset in the 84th minute. It was just his second appearance with Molde since his arrival and he had eight games where he went as an unused sub.
But that win clinched the Eliteserien title for Molde and Wingo was on the field for celebrations. Now if he can work hard through the offseason and into next year, perhaps he can help Molde on a regular basis next season and play in the upcoming Champions League qualifiers.
In some other notes from abroad, Josh Sargent did really do all that much when he went the final eight minutes for Werder Bremen in a 3-1 loss to Bundesliga-leading Borussia Monchengladbach.
The same could also be said for Tyler Boyd who played the final 14 minutes for Besiktas in a 1-0 home win over Denizlispor. Still for Boyd, he scored midweek in the Europa League and got on the field in the following Superliga game. So the fact he is playing a little more is a big improvement.
Bobby Wood made just his fourth appearance of the year for Hamburg in a 1-1away draw with Holstein Kiel. He came on in the 66th minute and was on the field for Timo Letschert’s stoppage time equalizer. He has still only played 47 league minutes this season.
In France's Ligue 2, American teenager Nicholas Gioacchini (born in 2000 and eligible for the current U-23 cycle) started his third straight game for SV Caen in a 1-1 draw with Auxere. He now has one goal in 254 minutes this season.
Haji Wright continues to play in the Eredivisie team but VVV-Venlo is truly awful and firmly in the relegation zone. On Saturday it dropped a 6-1 decision to Heracles and Haji Wright went the distance. He has now played 802 minutes and does not have a either a goal or an assist.
In Argentina, potential U.S. U-20 midfielder Matko Miljevic went as an unused sub for Argentinos Juniors in a 3-0 loss to San Lorenzo. The Miami native started the previous game. With that loss, Argentinos Juniors fell out of first place and into third place in the Primera.
Dropping down to the youth level, U.S. U-20 winger Ulysses Llanez scored his 10th goal of the season for Wolfsburg’s U-19 team and is tied for third in the league for scoring. With Wolfsburg’s first team struggling offensively in the Bundesliga (scoring just 11 goals in 11 games), Llanez seems to make sense for a look with the first team – perhaps over the Bundesliga winter break.
Speaking of Wolfsburg’s first team, John Brooks went as an unused sub for Wolfsburg in a 2-0 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
Pulisic’s monster game
Christian Pulisic is on one of the best runs of his career and it continued on Saturday during a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in a London Derby at Stamford Bridge
With Chelsea up 1-0 in the 79th minute, Pulisic doubled the lead with his fifth Premier League goal in his last three games. That has been mixed with strong recent outings in the Champions League.
And just like that, Pulisic scores! His 5th goal in his last 3 Premier League games! pic.twitter.com/NeEJ5cCpXo
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 9, 2019
But the goal only tells part of the performance. Pulisic was the best player on the field for the day and he was impressive in many phases.
Here is a look at some of his numbers.
- 6 shots
- 3 shots on goal
- 1 goal
- 3 key passes
- 2 aerials won
- 5 successful dribbles
Yedlin’s stands out with goal
DeAndre Yedlin doesn’t score often but on Saturday the Seattle native got on the board and his goal was fantastic.With Newcastle trailing Bournemouth 1-0 in the 42nd minute, Yedlin equalized with a header that was just an overall good play. He read the play well in how his teammate, Allan Saint-Maximin was getting set for a cross. He spotted the open space and used his speed to make an aggressive run. He then executed a header for an emphatic finish. Overall, it was just a great play for the former Seattle Sounder.
I love everything about this goal from Yedlin. I love the speed, I love the aggression, I love how he read the space, I love the execution. This is good stuff from the #USMNT RB pic.twitter.com/BFBj6EIs80
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 9, 2019
In the second half, Newcastle would pull ahead for a 2-1 win.
Defensively, Yedlin was also important to the win. He had three tackles and three clearances. His passing percentage was north of 70%
After missing the Gold Cup, Newcastle’s preseason and the start to the season, Yedlin is certainly trending upward.
Green’s solid season continues
Julian Green, 24, is having a nice start to the 2.Bundesliga with Greuther Furth after subpar campaign in 2018/19. On Saturday, the Florida-born attacking midfielder score a free kick goal in the 14th minute that gave Greuther Furth a 1-0 lead on Sandhausen.
Unfortunately for Green and Furth, Sandhausen would eventually go on to win 3-2 but Green’s free kick was his fourth goal of the season. With the loss, Furth fell into fifth place of the 2.Bundesliga.
Wicked goal from Julian Green. Furth leads 1-0 in the 12 minute. His 4th goal of the season. #kleeblatt @USMNT #USMNT @kleeblattfuerth pic.twitter.com/GsZlAhPimD
— Jon Soltz (@jonsoltz) November 9, 2019
Sabbi continues roll
Emmanuel Sabbi was called up by the U.S. U-23 team for the upcoming tournament in Spain. But the winger is in the midst of a terrific run for Hobro and he scored his sixth goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against Nordsjaelland. It was his third straight game with a goal.
In the game, fellow American and U.S. U-23 teammate Christian Cappis went the distance in the win.
A bit test awaits both Cappis and Sabbi in Spain as the U.S. U-23 team will take on Brazil and either Argentina or Chile. But with Sabbi scoring goals like this, he could give the U.S. team an edge.
Hobro 1-1 Nordsjaelland in the 84th minute. U.S U-23 winger Emmanuel Sabbi with a goal in his 3rd straight game and sixth of the season for Hobro pic.twitter.com/RLEdOoLL4s
— American Soccer Now (@ClassicASN) November 10, 2019
Ariyibi nabs first in Greece
It hasn’t been easy for 2015 U.S. U-23 winger Gboli Ariyibi since joining Panetolikos in Greece. Panetolikos is one of the worst teams in the Greek Super League and is yet to win a game. The only reason why the team is not in last place is that Panionios was docked six points to start the year.
But Ariyibi’s goal was nice, if a bit fortunate as it took a deflection. But Panetolikos lost to Volos NFC 3-2 and will need to start wining goals soon before it loses too much ground in its likely relegation battle.
In the Greek Super League, Panetolikos is still without a win through 10 games but 2015 U.S U-23 winger Gboli Ariyibi with his fist goal of the season for the club in a 3-2 loss to Volos Nps pic.twitter.com/WyrFfptL5A
— American Soccer Now (@ClassicASN) November 10, 2019
Three Yanks start in Schalke – Fortuna
On Saturday, Schalke played Fortuna Dusseldorf to a 3-3 draw in a game where three Americans started and one, David Wagner, coached.
It was an unusual game for Americans as the status of two of the players was different. Zack Steffen started in goal for Fortuna although knee tendinitis forced him to withdraw from the U.S. team’s upcoming games. It was decided that he needed this international window to rest in order to prevent further injury.
Also, Weston McKennie started out of his main position in central defense. Meanwhile, U.S. international Alfredo Morales started in his normal central midfield position for Fortuna.
McKennie, while talented, is not a central defender and did not track a run which resulted in Fortuna’s final equalizing goal in the 85th minute. The sooner he returns to midfield, the better.
Morales was decent. He won six aerial duals, the most on his team. He was also credited with three interceptions.
Steffen, meanwhile, made two saves as Schalke scored three goals from five shots. He will now remain in Germany to rest through the international window.
Palmer-Brown assists
Erik Palmer-Brown has had a mixed time to start his loan with Austrian Vienna but on Sunday, the former Sporting Kansas City defender assisted to Thomas Ebner on his team’s second goal in a 2-1 win over Mattersburg. Here is the assist from EPB. Not sure what he intended but he headed it back to the eventual goal scorer pic.twitter.com/TePAQQsUqH
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 10, 2019
With the win, Austria Vienna is pushing towards the top half of the Austrian Bundesliga table. For Palmer-Brown he needs to remain in the team’s starting lineup and perform well to break into the U.S. U-23 team. He was not part of the upcoming team for its tournament in Spain but was the U-20 World Cup captain in 2017 and has vast experience with many in the pool.
Dest makes first Ajax appearance since commitment
Sergino Dest hasn’t been playing much since his decision to commit to the U.S. national team two weeks ago. Instead, manager Erik ten Hag has been using fullbacks Nicolás Tagliafico and Noussair Mazraoui in place of Dest.
On Sunday, Dest was on the bench for Ajax for its home game against FC Utrecht but replaced Mazraoui in the 55th minute after it appeared Mazraoui had picked up an injury. It was the first Ajax appearance for Dest since he decided that he would represent the United States internationally over his native Holland.
Overall, it was a pretty easy game for Dest as Ajax had a 3-0 lead when he came on and end up winning 4-0. Dest made a few nice passes and was credited with an impressive four tackles. But if Mazraoui or Tafliafico are considered to be ahead of him, that is probably unchanged at the moment.
Mixed results in the Championship
There were a number of American players in action in the English Championship over the weekend.
Duane Holmes, Matt Miazga, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, and Antonee Robinson all got starts. Cameron Carter-Vickers, after a rough midweek start for Stoke City, went as an unused substitute and Luca de la Torre earned a rare appearance on the bench for Fulham although he went as an unused sub as well.
Holmes, who was a tough cut from the U.S. national team roster, started for Derby County in a 1-0 away loss to a strong Nottingham Forest team that looks like it will contend for promotion this year. Holmes wasn’t quiet as creative with his passing but was feisty with his defense and was credited with five successful dribbles. He was subbed out in the 73rd minute.
Matt Maizga went a full 90 for Reading FC in a convincing 3-0 win over Luton Town. This result was never in doubt and Reading outshot Luton Town 17-4. Miazga was his usual dominant in the air and calm on the ball, but he was not seriously tested.
Antonee Robinson and Wigan suffered a tough loss 3-0 at home to Brentford. Robinson wasn’t as strong as he’s been over the past month but he wasn’t as bad as most of is teammates either. He wasn’t effective getting forward but defensively he helped limit Brentford on his side of the field.
Tim Ream will arrive with the U.S. national team in fine form as he went the distance for Fulham in a 1-0 away win over Birmingham City. Ream had his usual calm and steady performance. His pass completion was very high and he won most challenges that came his way.
Elsewhere, Eric Lichaj and Hull City fell to leaders West Brom 1-0 at home. Geoff Cameron and Queens Park Rangers drew Middlesbrough 2-2 at home.
Wingo on field for Norwegian title
It wasn’t just a great day for the Seattle Sounders, it was also a great day for Seattle Sounder alumni in Europe. In addition to DeAndre Yedlin’s goal for Newcastle, Henry Wingo was on the field as Molde clinched the Norwegian title.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/NiXWVkUdV8
— Molde Fotballklubb (@Molde_FK) November 10, 2019
Wingo, 24, was a homegrown signing for the Sounders in 2017 but transferred to Molde in August. He hasn’t played much but was subbed into Sunday’s 4-0 win over Stromgodset in the 84th minute. It was just his second appearance with Molde since his arrival and he had eight games where he went as an unused sub.
But that win clinched the Eliteserien title for Molde and Wingo was on the field for celebrations. Now if he can work hard through the offseason and into next year, perhaps he can help Molde on a regular basis next season and play in the upcoming Champions League qualifiers.
Other notes
In some other notes from abroad, Josh Sargent did really do all that much when he went the final eight minutes for Werder Bremen in a 3-1 loss to Bundesliga-leading Borussia Monchengladbach.
The same could also be said for Tyler Boyd who played the final 14 minutes for Besiktas in a 1-0 home win over Denizlispor. Still for Boyd, he scored midweek in the Europa League and got on the field in the following Superliga game. So the fact he is playing a little more is a big improvement.
Bobby Wood made just his fourth appearance of the year for Hamburg in a 1-1away draw with Holstein Kiel. He came on in the 66th minute and was on the field for Timo Letschert’s stoppage time equalizer. He has still only played 47 league minutes this season.
In France's Ligue 2, American teenager Nicholas Gioacchini (born in 2000 and eligible for the current U-23 cycle) started his third straight game for SV Caen in a 1-1 draw with Auxere. He now has one goal in 254 minutes this season.
Haji Wright continues to play in the Eredivisie team but VVV-Venlo is truly awful and firmly in the relegation zone. On Saturday it dropped a 6-1 decision to Heracles and Haji Wright went the distance. He has now played 802 minutes and does not have a either a goal or an assist.
In Argentina, potential U.S. U-20 midfielder Matko Miljevic went as an unused sub for Argentinos Juniors in a 3-0 loss to San Lorenzo. The Miami native started the previous game. With that loss, Argentinos Juniors fell out of first place and into third place in the Primera.
Dropping down to the youth level, U.S. U-20 winger Ulysses Llanez scored his 10th goal of the season for Wolfsburg’s U-19 team and is tied for third in the league for scoring. With Wolfsburg’s first team struggling offensively in the Bundesliga (scoring just 11 goals in 11 games), Llanez seems to make sense for a look with the first team – perhaps over the Bundesliga winter break.
???????????????? #VfLWolfsburg
— VfL Wolfsburg US (@VfLWolfsburg_US) November 11, 2019
American youngster @uly_soccer7 has been on ???? for the U19 #Wolves!
Llanez scored again this weekend in their 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig U19. That's his 10th goal this season, he's now tied for third on the top scorer charts! #YanksAbroad #USMNT pic.twitter.com/bjwYtqHacf
Speaking of Wolfsburg’s first team, John Brooks went as an unused sub for Wolfsburg in a 2-0 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
