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Gatt scores in Molde season opener

Gatt (Getty Images)

Josh Gatt might not be with the U.S. Under-23 men's national team for Olympic qualifying, but that doesn't mean his week still won't be a memorable one for him.

Recalled by Molde after initially being part of Caleb Porter's 20-man qualifying roster, Gatt scored in his club's Eliteserien season opener as part of a 2-1 win over Stromsgodset. 

Gatt completed a run from just over the midfield line into the Stromsgodset area and finished low and to the far corner with his left foot to tally in the 70th minute of the game, which also marked former Columbus Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo's debut with the club (highlights of the match can be seen here. Gatt started and went the distance, and his goal wound up being the game-winner as the defending league champions held on to open their season with three points.

Comments

  1. quite the contrary. almost all of the US u23s are at the BEGINNING of their professional careers. to say that none of them are going to improve and move up the professional ladder is pessimistic at best. adu is only one you could say that has stalled or regressed in his development.

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  2. After last night, it may be a moot point on whether Gatt will be on the Olympic squad. This team is chock full of fools gold. We get all excited when we beat week sisters of the poor and start strutting our stuff (U20 World Cup Qualifiers) only to get it handed to us when we play a technically competent team. The same is happening with this group. We appoint a coach who has NO professional or international experience because we believe we are loaded. He is showing right in front of our eyes that he is way over his head. The harsh truth is that maybe one or two of the guys who played last night will ever make a real vertical move in their careers. The rest have reached their peek and will continue to play at the level they are at today. That is NOT a formula for International success. But, we keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Even if we get out of these qualifiers, the chances of us competing at all at the Olympics are very, very low. We will be playing against guys who have or will very soon make moves to the best leagues in abroad. Who can we honestly say that about on this squad?

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  3. Gatt is 20 and not that experienced a soccer player comparatively speaking.

    It is to his benefit to play right back or any other position where he might do well.

    He won’t be a burner forever and he needs to develop as many of his other skills as he can.

    One reason why he could be a great RB is because that kind of speed can be particularly useful coming from the back.

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  4. That he played RB last season and was listed by Porter as a RB is the answer to your question why people keep saying he’s a RB.

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  5. Don’t worry, Gatt & Molde will find a way to make his call up a drama over the UCL games they have during the Olympics.

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  6. its great to see that his club recalls him from Nat duty cause of injuries, and he steps in and scores a goal the first game back. definitely shows he is one of their most valued players. at a very young age that is great to see

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  7. This raises the question of whether he still has a shot of making the squad if/when the team qualifies for the Olympics. Even if Molde released him (unlikely) would he still be in Porter’s plans after missing so much camp time?

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  8. Gatt is even faster than Gyau .And has the same great one one one skill as Gyau. I can only imagine what these two guys could do on the wings in the future. It’s going to be hard to leave either Gyau or Gatt off of the Olympic roster.

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  9. He was played at RW. Where he should be. Ole has already stated that he will be playing RW. He will only play RB in emergency situations. Don’t understand why people keep saying he is a RB because he is not, and only played RB last year because Molde had injury problems all lst season to the other RB’s. Even though Porter listed him as a RB he said he was going to play him at RW.

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  10. Easy killer…for such an effort in providing his resume, I’m surprised you missed the part where he was recalled by club.

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  11. Why is Gatt not on the U-23 roster? What more does he have to prove? Molde won the title last year, Gatt has pace and technical ability, he’s versatile, and he can finish. What’s not to like? Great potential, great learner. I don’t see a downside. I see him starting a World Cup match one day.

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  12. Gatt is worthy of being part of the Olympic team, and once he gets a little more experience he should be a real contributor to the USMNT. Looking forward to the da when He & Gyau start coming off the bench for the USMNT. The 2 will be a force in years to come.

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