USMNT: Weston McKennie debuts for Juventus, Gio Renya nets first Bundesliga goal

With European seasons now back in full swing and Major League Soccer heading into the home stretch, U.S. Men’s National Team players are making an impact at home and abroad.

In Italy, midfielder Weston McKennie became just the third USMNT player after Alexi Lalas and Michael Bradley to appear in Serie A. The 22-year-old Texan earned his Juventus debut from Andrea Pirlo – himself making his coaching debut – as the Bianconeri collected a 3-0 win against Sampdoria to open the Serie A campaign.

McKennie created a few opportunities, with a first-half chance of his own going over the before he played a part in Juventus’ second goal. Pouncing on a loose ball following a corner kick, McKennie’s quick shot was saved before Leonardo Bonucci put home the rebound in the 78th minute.

Watch every touch for Weston McKennie in his Juventus debut:

In Germany, 17-year-old Gio Reyna continued to impress and scored his first Bundesliga goal in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach to open the new campaign. The goal came after a Dortmund cross bounced around the box before falling to Jude Bellingham. The English played a pass to Reyna on the right who slotted his low effort inside the left post in the 35th minute.

At 17 years, 311 days, @Gioreyna10 is the second youngest ?? player to score in the @Bundesliga_EN after @cpulisic_10. ? ? pic.twitter.com/6cuwiqwEkU

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 19, 2020

At 17 years and 311 days, Reyna became the second youngest American to score in the Bundesliga, following only Christian Pulisic who tallied for Dortmund in 2016 at 17 years, 211 days.

On the other side of halftime, Reyna drew a penalty kick which Erling Haaland buried in the 54th minute to send Dortmund on its way to a convincing 3-0 victory.

Back Stateside, striker Gyasi Zardes assisted on the opening goal and scored in stoppage time to give Columbus Crew SC a 2-0 home win against Nashville SC. In the 50th minute, Zardes forced a turnover on the left and fed Pedro Santos who fired Columbus into the 1-0 lead.

The veteran striker than iced the match with a highlight-reel strike in stoppage time. Catching Nashville in transition, Artur centered the ball for Zardes who used a no-look, side-heel into the lower left corner to confirm the three points for Columbus.

The goal was Zardes’ ninth of the season, putting him just one back of league-leader Diego Rossi for the MLS Golden Boot. Zardes has four goals and three assists in his last three matches for league-leading Columbus.

A few other highlights from the weekend:

Reggie Cannon made his competitive debut for Boavista in the club’s 3-3 draw with Nacional to open the Portuguese Primeira campaign.
Jonathan Lewis collected his fourth goal of the season, with his 78^th minute tally sending the Colorado Rapids to a 2-0 shutout win vs. LA Galaxy.
The Philadelphia Union duo of Brendan Aaronson and Mark McKenzie each collected assists in the club’s impressive 4-1 win at Montreal Impact on Sunday night.

Here’s how the USMNT player pool performed at home and abroad over the last week:

ABROAD

Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Mainz (Sept. 20)
Tyler Boyd (Besiktas; Turkish SuperLig) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Antalyaspor (Sept. 19)
John Brooks (Wolfsburg; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Sept. 20)
Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) – 90 minutes in 3-3 draw at Nacional (Sept. 19)
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) – 45 minutes in 1-0 loss at Fortaleza (Sept. 20), 25 substitute minutes, ASSIST in 4-3 Copa Libertadores win vs. América de Cali (Sept. 16)
Sergiño Dest (Ajax) – 11 substitute minutes in 3-0 win vs. RKC Waalwijk (Sept. 20)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; French Ligue 2) – 45 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Chambly (Sept. 19)
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Second Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Osnabrück (Sept. 19)
Duane Holmes (Derby County; English Championship) – Injured; Not in 18 for 2-1 loss at Luton Town (Sept. 19)
Ulysses Llanez (Heerenveen; Dutch Eredivisie) – Not in 18 for 3-1 win at Fortuna Sittard (Sept. 19)
Weston McKennie (Juventus; Italian Serie A) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Sampdoria (Sept. 20)
Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf; German Second Bundesliga) – 62 minutes in 2-1 loss at Hamburg (Sept. 18)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) – Injured; Not in 18 for 2-0 loss vs. Chelsea (Sept. 20)
Tim Ream (Fulham; English Premier League) – In 18, DNP in 4-3 loss at Leeds United (Sept. 19)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; German Bundesliga) – 78 minutes, GOAL, DRAWN PK in 3-0 win vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (Sept. 20)
Chris Richards (Bayern Munich; German Bundesliga) – 17 substitute minutes in 8-0 win vs. Schalke (Sept. 18)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Premier League) – Not in 18 for 4-3 loss at Leeds United (Sept. 19); 90 minutes in 1-0 League Cup win at Ipswich Town (Sept. 16)
Emmanuel Sabbi (OB; Danish SuperLiga) – 89 minutes, GOAL in 1-1 draw vs. Nordsjælland (Sept. 20)
Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; German Bundesliga) – 90 minutes in 4-1 loss vs. Hertha Berlin (Sept. 19)
Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) – Monday, Sept. 21 at Wolverhampton Wanderers (3:15pm ET)
Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) – 12 substitute minutes in 1-1 draw at Olympique Marseille (Sept. 20)
DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United; English Premier League) – Not in 18 in 3-0 loss vs. Brighton (Sept. 20); 90 minutes in 1-0 League Cup win vs. Blackburn Rovers (Sept. 15)

MLS

Brendan Aaronson (Philadelphia Union) – 87 minutes, ASSIST in 4-1 win at Montreal Impact (Sept. 20)
Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC) – 45 substitute minutes, GOAL in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 19)
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) – 45 minutes in 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 19)
Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy) – 75 minutes, RED CARD in 2-0 loss vs. Colorado Rapids (Sept. 19)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 2-2 draw at D.C. United (Sept. 19)
Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) – In 18, DNP in 4-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids (Sept. 16); In 18, DNP in 3-2 win at Sporting KC (Sept. 19)
Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw at Houston Dynamo (Sept. 19)
Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Inter Miami FC (Sept. 19)
Bill Hamid (D.C. United) – 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Toronto FC (Sept. 19)
Sean Johnson (New York City FC) – 90 minutes, SHUTOUT in 0-0 draw at New England Revolution (Sept. 19)
Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids) – 66 minutes in 4-1 loss at FC Dallas (Sept. 16); 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-0 win at LA Galaxy (Sept. 19)
Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes) – Not in 18 for 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers (Sept. 16); 64 minutes in 6-1 loss vs. Portland Timbers (Sept. 19)
Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Colorado Rapids (Sept. 19)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. FC Cincinnati (Sept. 19)
Daniel Lovitz (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Columbus Crew SC (Sept. 19)
Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes, ASSIST in 4-1 win at Montreal Impact (Sept. 20)
Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire) – 81 minutes in 4-1 loss at Orlando City SC (Sept. 19)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. LAFC (Sept. 19)
Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Inter Miami FC (Sept. 19)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. LAFC (Sept. 19)
Matt Turner (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes, SHUTOUT in 0-0 draw vs. New York City FC (Sept. 19)
Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids) – 90 minutes at FC Dallas (Sept. 16); 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-0 win at LA Galaxy (Sept. 19)
Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Portland Timbers (Sept. 16); 90 minutes in 6-1 loss vs. Portland Timbers (Sept. 19)
Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-0 win vs. Nashville SC (Sept. 19)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Columbus Crew SC (Sept. 19)