MNT Rewind: Wood, Picault and Long On Target Ahead of MNT Camp

Bobby Wood, Fafa Picault and Aaron Long find the back of the net on the way to MNT October camp
By: Jeff Crandall

With an eye towards the opening of camp, a host of U.S. Men’s National Team players put in fine performances for their clubs before heading to Tampa to prepare for the Kickoff Series matches against Colombia and Peru.

Striker Bobby Wood opened his account for Hannover 96, heading home two goals before halftime in the club’s 3-1 win against Stuttgart on Saturday. The first came on the half-hour mark when Miiko Albornoz swung in a cross from the left to Wood where he rose and redirected his header inside the back post.

The two combined again just before halftime, with Albornoz turning on a dime before centering for Wood at the penalty spot. The American took two steps before sending a snap header inside the left post.

The brace was Wood’s first in the German top-flight and made him the sixth U.S. player to achieve the feat all-time.

A later addition to MNT camp, Fafa Picault further justified his inclusion by recording a double in the Philadelphia Union’s playoff-clinching win against Minnesota United FC. With Philly already leading 2-0, Keegan Rosenberry slipped Picault through the Minnesota back line where he fought off a defender before finishing to make it 3-0 in the 23rd minute.

Picault made it 4-0 just before the break. Receiving a pass from CJ Sapong on the left, he took the space given to him in the box and measured a curling right-footed effort inside the top right corner. The brace was the second of the Miami native’s MLS career, and took his total to 10 on the 2018 season.

As he looks to earn his first MNT cap this month, Aaron Long continued his strong MLS campaign by tallying his third goal of the season in the New York Red Bulls 3-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes. Mark Rzatkowski’s corner from the right found Tim Parker, whose flick popped up for Long to head past San Jose ‘keeper JT Marcinkowski.

It’s also worth giving a shoutout to Weston McKennie, who was originally slated to be part of this month’s roster before suffering an injury. The 20-year-old had a standout week, scoring his first professional goal, an 88th minute game-winner in Schalke’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory against Lokomotiv Moscow. He followed it up Saturday by opening the scoring in Schalke’s 2-0 win at Fortuna Düsseldorf.

McKennie suffered an adductor injury, forcing him to miss out on this month’s matches against Colombia and Peru.

Other notes:

  • Midfielder Kenny Saief made his first start of the season, playing 68 minutes in Anderlecht’s 2-1 win vs. Zulte-Waregem on Sunday.
  • First-time call-up Reggie Cannon went the full 90 minutes in helping FC Dallas to a 2-0 win against Orlando City SC and the team’s ninth clean sheet of the season.

Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. LAFC (Oct. 6)
Jonathan Amon (Nordsjælland) – 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Hobro (Oct. 7)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Oct. 6)
John Brooks (Wolfsburg) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Werder Bremen (Oct. 6)
Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas) – 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Orlando City SC (Oct. 6)
Marky Delgado (Toronto FC) – 58 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Oct. 6)
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth) – 90 minutes, YELLOW CARD in 1-1 draw vs. Jahn Regensburg (Oct. 7)
Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. New England Revolution (Oct. 6)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 3-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes (Oct. 6)
Matt Miazga (Nantes) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Bordeaux (Oct. 7)
Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard) – 90 minutes in 3-3 draw at Emmen (Oct. 7)
Fafà Picault (Philaelphia Union) – 90 minutes, TWO GOALS in 5-1 win vs. Minnesota United FC (Oct. 6)
Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Swansea City (Oct. 2); 90 minutes in 4-0 loss at Preston North End (Oct. 6)
Kenny Saief (Anderlecht) – 24 substitute minutes in 2-0 UEFA Europa League loss vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Oct. 4); 68 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Zulte-Waregem (Oct. 7)
Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Montreal Impact (Oct. 6)
Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Montreal Impact (Oct. 6)
Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain) – Sunday, Oct. 7 vs. Olympique Lyon
Bobby Wood (Hannover 96) – 76 minutes, TWO GOALS in 3-1 win vs. Stuttgart (Oct. 6)
DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United) – 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Manchester United (Oct. 6)

Did Not Play

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City) – In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic (Oct. 2); In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Ipswich Town (Oct. 6)
Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge) – In 18, DNP in 3-1 UEFA Champions League loss at Atlético Madrid (Oct. 3); In 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Standard Liege (Oct. 7)
Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen II) – Rested; Not in 18 for 1-0 win vs. Germania Egestorf (Oct. 6)
Ben Sweat (New York City FC) – Idle