In a fine week for USMNT players abroad, midfielder Weston McKennie took top honors.
During a five-day span, the 22-year-old U.S. Men's National Team midfielder earned his first major European trophy and winner's medal and added an important insurance goal for Juventus.
On Wednesday, McKennie celebrated with his Juve teammates after capturing the Italian Super Cup behind a 2-0 victory over Napoli at San Siro in Milan. It was Juventus' record ninth Super Cup trophy.
Words can’t describe the feeling to be able to finally lift a trophy. Hopefully the first of many!!!! #forzajuve pic.twitter.com/memWLBbqQ1
— Weston McKennie (@WMckennie) January 20, 2021
On Sunday, the Little Elm, Texas native scored once again for Juve, nodding home a 71st minute insurance goal in the club’s 2-0 defeat of Bologna. With the goal, the 22-year-old became the first USMNT player to score three goals in a Serie A season and also equaled Michael Bradley for the most lifetime tallies by a U.S. player in the Italian top-flight.
As it turned out, McKennie was just the tip of the iceberg on a productive week and weekend for several USMNT teammates, especially goal-scorers who are 22 years old or younger
Josh Sargent, 20, snapped a personal 10-match Bundesliga scoreless streak by connecting for Werder Bremen's final goal in its 4-1 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday. The forward drilled a 24-yard line drive into the bottom corner. It also was his first goal in five games across all competitions.
Take a bow, @joshsargent! 💥
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) January 23, 2021
The 🇺🇸 striker with a BANGER for @werderbremen_en.
(@ESPNFC)
pic.twitter.com/XHj5VoOAWr
Tyler Adams, 21, tallied his first career Bundesliga goal in RB Leipzig's 3-2 away loss to Mainz 05 on Saturday. He tucked home a rebound of a Marcel Sabitzer shot off the crossbar in the 15th minute to boost the visitors into a 1-0 lead, but Mainz rallied as second-place Leipzig fell seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Cool as ya like. Check out @tyler_adams14’s first @Bundesliga_EN goal! 👀
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) January 23, 2021
(@ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/r9Gc1xdE42
And there were some outstanding performances on the other side of the ball as well:
Playing the full 90 minutes in two away road matches, center back John Brooks helped Wolfsburg record clean sheets, first a 2-0 triumph at Mainz 05 on Tuesday and then a 1-0 win at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Within a period of four days, center back Matt Miazga helped anchor two shutouts for host Anderlecht in the Belgian First Division A. Miazga played complete games while helping secure a 3-0 victory over Sporting Charleroi on Tuesday and a 0-0 draw with Waasland-Beveren on Friday.
Zack Steffen, who has become Manchester City's designated goalkeeper in domestic cup competitions, backstopped the English Premier League club's 3-1 win over host Cheltenham Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Man City will face Swansea City in the fifth round on Feb. 10. Steffen could play against USMNT midfielder-forward Jordan Morris, who joined the Welsh club on loan through May from Seattle Sounders FC this week.
In other weekend highlights:
Two former Philadelphia Union teammates - Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie - made their European league debuts on Sunday. Aaronson, a midfielder who registered a goal and an assist in a 6-0 friendly victory over second division SK Vorwarts Steyr last week, came on as a 62nd minute substitute in Red Bull Salzburg's 2-0 win over SC Rheindorf Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga.
McKenzie was in the starting XI and played the full 90 minutes for second-place Genk in a 3-2 defeat to leaders Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League,
In his second consecutive game off the bench, Gio Reyna came on for Marco Reus in the 71st minute of Borussia Dortmund's 4-2 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday.
Christian Pulisic played 70 minutes in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Luton Town in the English FA Cup on Sunday.
Julian Green scored in the 29th minute to give Greuther Fürth a 2-0 lead in what turned into a 3-3 draw at Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday. Green played 71 minutes before he was subbed out. Midfielder Alfredo Morales went the entire way for the hosts.
Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 77 minutes and a GOAL in 3-2 loss at Mainz 05 (Jan. 23); 13 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win vs. Union Berlin (Jan. 20)
Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria Bundesliga) - 28 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Rheindorf Altach (Jan. 24)
Tyler Boyd (Besiktas, Turkish Super Lig) -- Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Goztepe (Jan. 24); Not in 18, DNP in 4-1 win at Fatih Karagumruk (Jan. 21)
John Brooks (Wolfsburg; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen (Jan. 23); 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Mainz 05 (Jan. 19)
Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 61 minutes in 3-1 loss at Tondela (Jan. 24)
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Gremio (Jan. 24); 18 minutes as a substitute in 5-1 win at Sao Paulo (Jan. 21)
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Bournemouth; English Championship) – 45 minutes in 1-0 loss at Derby County in FA Cup (Jan. 19)
Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona; Spain La Liga/Segunda B) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Elche (Jan. 24); 19 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 win at Cornella in Copa del Rey (Jan. 21)
Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) – In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Elche (Jan. 24); Injured, DNP in 2-1 win at Cornella in Copa del Rey (Jan. 21)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 71 minutes in 2-1 loss to Rodez (Jan. 23); 79 minutes and a GOAL in 3-1 win at Guingamp (Jan. 20)
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Second Bundesliga) – 71 minutes and a GOAL in 3-3 draw at Fortuna Dusseldorf (Jan. 22)
Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge; Belgian Pro League) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Genk (Jan. 24); In 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. KV Oostende (Jan. 20)
Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; German Bundesliga) - 72 minutes in 3-1 loss at Bayern Munich (Jan. 24); 90 minutes and GOAL in 2-1 loss to Köln (Jan. 20)
Duane Holmes (Derby County; English Championship) – Not in 18 in 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers (Jan. 23): Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 win vs. AFC Bournemouth in FA Cup (Jan. 19)
Ulysses Llanez (Heerenveen; Dutch Eredivisie) – Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Hercales (Jan. 23); Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 loss at Emmen (Jan. 20)
Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 89 minutes and GOAL in 2-0 win vs. Bologna (Jan. 24); 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Napoli in Super Cup final (Jan. 20)
Mark McKenzie (Genk, Belgian Pro League) -- 90 minutes in 3-2 loss at Club Brugge (Jan. 24); Not in 18 DNP in 1-1 draw vs. Gent (Jan. 21)
Matt Miazga (RSC Anderlecht; Belgian First Division A) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Waasland-Beveren (Jan. 22); 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Sporting Charleroi (Jan. 19)
Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf; German Second Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 3-3 draw vs. Greuther Fürth (Jan. 22)
Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 79 minutes in 3-1 loss at Atletico Madrid (Jan. 24); 31 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. Osasuna (Jan. 21)
Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 win at Chorley in FA Cup (Jan. 22)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) – 70 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Luton Town in FA Cup (Jan. 24); 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Leicester City (Jan. 19)
Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss vs. Burnley in FA Cup (Jan. 24); In 18, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Manchester United (Jan. 20)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 19 minutes as a substitute in 4-2 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Jan. 22); 17 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen (Jan. 19)
Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; German Bundesliga/German 3.Liga) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Turkgucu Munchen (Jan. 22)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) – Suspended, DNP in 3-0 loss vs. Burnley in FA Cup (Jan. 24); Suspended, DNP in 2-1 loss vs. Manchester United (Jan. 20)
Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; German Bundesliga) – 58 minutes as a substitute and a GOAL in 4-1 win at Hertha Berlin (Jan. 23); 74 minutes in 1-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Jan. 19)
Sebastian Soto (Norwich City; English Championship) – Not 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Barnsley in FA Cup (Jan. 23)
Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – 90 minutes in 3-1 win at Cheltenham Town in FA Cup (Jan. 23)
Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 15 minutes as a substitute in 1-0 win at Rennes (Jan. 24)
DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United; English Premier League) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss at Aston Villa (Jan. 23); In 18, DNP in 3-0 loss at Arsenal (Jan. 18)
